Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2023 171649

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), under the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), offered the FY 23 Drug Data Research Center to Combat the Overdose Crisis grant to strengthen the nation s ability to understand and respond to the overdose emergency through better data. The opportunity is framed within OJP s broader priorities, which include advancing civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, supporting victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, and building trust between law enforcement and communities. In practical terms, this solicitation focuses on building durable, data-driven infrastructure so policymakers, public health leaders, and justice system partners can make faster and more targeted decisions to reduce fatal and nonfatal overdoses.

This program is designed to expand the drug data research center model that began with the first award made in 2022. BJA s plan is to grow a network of centers by funding up to two additional accredited colleges or universities to scale an existing statewide drug data repository into a regional drug data research center. The emphasis on "expanding an existing statewide repository" signals that applicants are expected to already have a functioning data collection and integration effort in place and then use federal support to broaden its reach, sophistication, and impact across a multi-state region rather than starting from scratch.

The core purpose of the regional drug data research centers is to promote the collection, analysis, research, and dissemination of information that can help curb overdoses involving opioids, stimulants, and other substances. That typically implies building or enhancing systems that can bring together multiple sources of overdose-related data (for example, information relevant to overdose incidents, toxicology trends, drug composition, nonfatal overdose events, and related public safety indicators) and then turning those inputs into usable intelligence. The intent is not data for its own sake, but data that can be translated into actionable insights for prevention, treatment engagement strategies, harm reduction planning, investigative priorities, and cross-agency coordination.

A major feature of this opportunity is collaboration and model replication. Awarded institutions and their regional centers are expected to work with the FY 2022 DDRC-funded center at the University of Alabama. The new centers are also expected to function as models and technical advisors, helping translate the approach into other U.S. regions over time. This means the program is structured not just as isolated research projects, but as an interconnected network where practices, methods, and lessons learned are shared to speed adoption of effective data infrastructure and analytic approaches nationwide.

Administratively, the funding mechanism is a discretionary cooperative agreement, which generally indicates a more hands-on relationship with the federal agency than a typical grant. In a cooperative agreement, BJA often has substantial programmatic involvement, such as coordinating activities across awardees, setting shared expectations, and supporting consistent approaches that enable a national network of centers rather than unrelated local efforts. The funding activity category is listed as Information and Statistics, underscoring that the primary output is improved data capacity, analysis, and dissemination rather than direct service delivery.

Eligibility is limited to accredited institutions of higher education, including both public/state-controlled and private universities. The program s Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 16.046, and the opportunity was released by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The solicitation was created on March 9, 2023, and the application closing date was May 1, 2023. The award ceiling is $1,980,000, and BJA anticipated making up to two awards, consistent with the goal of seeding a small number of regional centers that can then support broader replication.

  • The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 23 Drug Data Research Center to Combat the Overdose Crisis" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.046.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2023-03-09.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-01. (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 $1,980,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
Apply for O BJA 2023 171649

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the FY 23 Drug Data Research Center to Combat the Overdose Crisis grant?

It is a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funding opportunity under the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) intended to strengthen the nation s ability to understand and respond to the overdose emergency through better data. The solicitation focuses on building durable, data-driven infrastructure so decision-makers can act faster and more precisely to reduce fatal and nonfatal overdoses.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), which is part of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

What is the main purpose of the program?

The program supports the creation or expansion of regional drug data research centers that promote the collection, analysis, research, and dissemination of overdose-related information. The goal is to turn multi-source drug and overdose data into usable intelligence that can help curb overdoses involving opioids, stimulants, and other substances.

How does this program fit within OJP priorities?

The solicitation is framed within OJP s broader priorities, including advancing civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, supporting victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, and building trust between law enforcement and communities.

Is this grant intended to start a brand-new data system from scratch?

No. The solicitation emphasizes expanding an existing statewide drug data repository into a regional drug data research center. That emphasis signals that applicants are expected to already have a functioning statewide data collection and integration effort in place and then use federal support to broaden its reach and impact across a multi-state region.

What is meant by a regional drug data research center?

A regional drug data research center is a center designed to serve a multi-state region by strengthening overdose-related data capacity and producing analysis and research that can be shared with policymakers, public health leaders, and justice system partners. These centers are intended to support faster and more targeted decisions to reduce overdoses.

What kinds of data activities does the program support?

Based on the solicitation description, supported activities typically include collecting, integrating, analyzing, researching, and disseminating overdose-related information from multiple sources, then translating that information into actionable insights for prevention and response efforts.

What types of information might be included in an overdose-related data repository?

The opportunity describes bringing together multiple sources of overdose-related data. Examples mentioned include data relevant to overdose incidents, toxicology trends, drug composition, nonfatal overdose events, and related public safety indicators.

What is the expected end use of the data and analysis produced?

The intent is not data for its own sake. The program aims for data that can be translated into actionable insights for prevention, treatment engagement strategies, harm reduction planning, investigative priorities, and cross-agency coordination.

How does this FY 23 program relate to earlier awards?

This program is designed to expand the drug data research center model that began with the first award made in 2022. BJA s plan is to grow a network of centers by funding up to two additional institutions to scale an existing statewide repository into a regional center.

How many awards did BJA anticipate making?

BJA anticipated making up to two awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $1,980,000.

What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The funding mechanism is a discretionary cooperative agreement.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for awardees?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates a more hands-on relationship with the federal agency than a typical grant. The description notes that BJA often has substantial programmatic involvement, such as coordinating activities across awardees, setting shared expectations, and supporting consistent approaches that enable a national network of centers.

What is the funding activity category for this solicitation?

The funding activity category is Information and Statistics, indicating the primary output is improved data capacity, analysis, and dissemination rather than direct service delivery.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to accredited institutions of higher education, including public/state-controlled and private universities.

Are non-university organizations eligible?

The solicitation information provided states eligibility is limited to accredited institutions of higher education. No other eligible applicant types are described in the provided details.

What role does collaboration play in this program?

Collaboration and model replication are major features. Awarded institutions are expected to work with the FY 2022 DDRC-funded center at the University of Alabama, and new centers are expected to function as models and technical advisors to help translate the approach into other U.S. regions over time.

Which existing center are new awardees expected to coordinate with?

The solicitation specifies collaboration with the FY 2022 DDRC-funded center at the University of Alabama.

Are the centers expected to support replication beyond their own region?

Yes. The description indicates the program is structured as an interconnected network, with new centers expected to serve as models and technical advisors to speed adoption of effective data infrastructure and analytic approaches in other regions over time.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 16.046.

When was the solicitation created?

The solicitation was created on March 9, 2023.

What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was May 1, 2023.

What overarching problem is this program trying to address?

The program is intended to address the overdose emergency by improving the quality, availability, and usability of drug and overdose-related data so partners can better understand trends and deploy more effective responses.

Does the solicitation specify what substances are included in scope?

Yes. The description explicitly mentions overdoses involving opioids, stimulants, and other substances.

Who are the intended users of the information produced by the centers?

The solicitation describes policymakers, public health leaders, and justice system partners as key audiences who can use improved data and analysis to make faster and more targeted decisions.

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