Opportunity Information: Apply for O COPS 2026 172548
The FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). It is designed to strengthen community policing nationwide by helping law enforcement agencies improve their practices, increase officer safety and wellness, and build long-term capacity for self-assessment and continuous improvement. Rather than funding routine police operations, the program focuses on delivering practical, field-tested guidance and support that agencies can use to address challenges, improve effectiveness, and better serve their communities. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the funder expects substantial involvement in shaping, monitoring, or collaborating on the work during the project period.
This opportunity has two distinct funding categories, and applicants must align with the eligibility rules for the category they apply to. Category 1 funds the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC). CRI-TAC has operated since 2017 and delivers technical assistance using a "by the field, for the field" model, meaning it relies heavily on practitioner-informed expertise and solutions that are intended to be immediately useful to agencies. The assistance is agency-driven and customizable, with short-term support available across more than 60 topic areas. In practice, this category supports a central technical assistance hub that can respond to agency needs, deliver targeted guidance, and promote the spread of proven approaches in community policing and related areas.
Category 2 supports the Collaborative Reform Initiative Critical Response program, which is built for agencies facing high-profile events, major incidents, or other sensitive situations that require timely, specialized assistance. This category is intentionally flexible and can be tailored to the severity and nature of the incident or issue. Support may include after-action reviews, peer-to-peer exchanges, structured assessments, in-depth analysis with recommendations, and facilitated discussions with subject matter experts. Because incidents differ widely, Critical Response projects can vary in duration depending on scope, but the core idea is to help agencies navigate complex events, identify lessons learned, and adopt improvements that reduce future risk and strengthen community trust.
Eligibility differs by category. For Category 1 (CRI-TAC), only law enforcement stakeholder associations that are membership organizations are eligible to apply. For Category 2 (Critical Response), eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. A key restriction is that for-profit applicants (and other recipients, as stated in the notice) must waive any profit or management fee, reinforcing that the federal funds are intended to pay for direct program work and technical assistance rather than generating profit.
From the funding details provided, the opportunity number is O-COPS-2026-172548 under CFDA 16.710, with an original application deadline of August 24, 2026. The program expects to make two awards, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $3,450,000. The activity category is Law, Justice, and Legal Services, and the administering agency is the Community Oriented Policing Services office within DOJ. Additional program background and context are available through the COPS CRI webpage at https://cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform.Apply for O COPS 2026 172548
- The Community Oriented Policing Services in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.710.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-24. (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 $3,450,000.00 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, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have 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, Others.
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FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) Program - FAQs
What is the FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) Program?
The FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). It is designed to strengthen community policing nationwide by helping law enforcement agencies improve their practices, increase officer safety and wellness, and build long-term capacity for self-assessment and continuous improvement.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program focuses on delivering practical, field-tested guidance and support that law enforcement agencies can use to address challenges, improve effectiveness, and better serve their communities. It is intended to help agencies build lasting capacity for continuous improvement.
Does this funding support routine police operations?
No. The program is described as not funding routine police operations. Instead, it emphasizes technical assistance, guidance, and support that agencies can apply to improve practices and outcomes.
What type of award is being offered?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement. This typically means the funder expects substantial involvement in shaping, monitoring, or collaborating on the work during the project period.
How many funding categories are available under this opportunity?
There are two distinct funding categories under this opportunity. Applicants must align with the eligibility rules for the specific category they apply to.
What is Category 1 funding for?
Category 1 funds the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC). CRI-TAC has operated since 2017 and delivers technical assistance using a "by the field, for the field" model that relies heavily on practitioner-informed expertise and solutions intended to be immediately useful to agencies.
What kind of assistance does CRI-TAC provide?
CRI-TAC provides agency-driven and customizable technical assistance. It offers short-term support across more than 60 topic areas, functioning as a central technical assistance hub that can respond to agency needs and promote the spread of proven approaches in community policing and related areas.
What is the "by the field, for the field" model mentioned for Category 1?
It refers to an approach where technical assistance is informed heavily by practitioners and real-world experience, with solutions designed to be practical and immediately usable by law enforcement agencies.
Who is eligible to apply for Category 1 (CRI-TAC)?
Only law enforcement stakeholder associations that are membership organizations are eligible to apply for Category 1 (CRI-TAC).
What is Category 2 funding for?
Category 2 supports the Collaborative Reform Initiative Critical Response program. This category is built for agencies facing high-profile events, major incidents, or other sensitive situations that require timely, specialized assistance.
What types of support can the Critical Response program provide?
Support may include after-action reviews, peer-to-peer exchanges, structured assessments, in-depth analysis with recommendations, and facilitated discussions with subject matter experts. The support is intentionally flexible and can be tailored to the severity and nature of the incident or issue.
How long do Critical Response projects typically last?
Project duration can vary depending on scope because incidents differ widely. The program description notes that projects can vary in duration based on the severity and nature of the incident or issue.
What is the overall goal of the Critical Response program?
The goal is to help agencies navigate complex events, identify lessons learned, and adopt improvements that reduce future risk and strengthen community trust.
Who is eligible to apply for Category 2 (Critical Response)?
Eligible applicants for Category 2 include for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education.
Are for-profit organizations allowed to earn profit or charge management fees on this award?
A key restriction is that for-profit applicants (and other recipients, as stated in the notice) must waive any profit or management fee. This reinforces that federal funds are intended to pay for direct program work and technical assistance rather than generating profit.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program expects to make two awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $3,450,000.
What is the opportunity number for this funding?
The opportunity number is O-COPS-2026-172548.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 16.710.
What is the original application deadline?
The original application deadline is August 24, 2026.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Law, Justice, and Legal Services.
Which federal office administers this opportunity?
The administering agency is the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Where can applicants find additional background on the CRI program?
Additional program background and context are available on the COPS CRI webpage: https://cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform.
Do applicants need to pick a specific category when applying?
Yes. The opportunity has two distinct categories, and applicants must align with the eligibility rules for the category they apply to.
Is the assistance described in this program meant to be customized to agency needs?
Yes. Category 1 (CRI-TAC) is described as agency-driven and customizable, and Category 2 (Critical Response) is described as intentionally flexible and tailored to incident severity and nature.
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