Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJS 2022 171331
The FY 2022 Census of Public Defender Offices (CPDO) is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), U.S. Department of Justice funding opportunity to support a nationwide data collection effort focused on public defender offices. It is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement under the Information and Statistics program area (CFDA 16.734). The larger policy context emphasized by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) includes advancing civil rights and racial equity, expanding access to justice, supporting people impacted by the justice system (including victims), strengthening community safety, and building trust between communities and the justice system.
The core purpose of the project is to administer an updated census of roughly 1,000 state and local public defender offices across the United States. BJS previously completed one iteration of this type of data collection and is using this solicitation to update and strengthen that work. The census is intended to produce consistent, national-level information about how public defender offices function in practice, with particular attention to operations and workload, staffing levels and staffing models, and office policies and procedures. In practical terms, this is about documenting what public defense offices look like on the ground, how much work they handle, what resources they have, and what rules or practices guide how representation is delivered to indigent clients.
The selected grantee is expected to take the lead on implementing the census end to end, working in coordination with BJS. BJS will provide a draft data collection instrument (a starting questionnaire), but the awardee will be responsible for refining the questionnaire as needed, building a complete and accurate roster of all eligible public defender offices (the census "frame"), and then fielding the collection to achieve broad participation. After data are gathered, the grantee must complete the full production cycle: data cleaning, validation and quality checks, analysis, and delivery of both raw and finalized datasets to BJS. The work concludes with a comprehensive final performance report that documents methods, outcomes, and deliverables.
The project is structured as a 36-month effort, reflecting the scale and complexity of a true national census. The solicitation anticipates four major phases: (1) questionnaire development, where the instrument is improved and finalized; (2) frame development, where the grantee assembles the definitive national list of offices and contact pathways; (3) fielding the CPDO, meaning actual survey administration and follow-up to maximize response and data completeness; and (4) data processing and delivery, which includes cleaning, analysis, and submission of usable datasets and documentation. Because this is a cooperative agreement, the agency typically expects active involvement from BJS during the project, such as coordination on instrument changes, methodological choices, deliverable review, and dissemination planning.
Substantively, the CPDO is positioned as part of BJS's broader, ongoing effort to measure indigent defense in the United States. It is meant to build on and extend earlier BJS collections, specifically the Survey of Public Defenders (SPD) and the National Survey of Indigent Defense Systems (NSIDS). By updating and expanding the evidence base, the CPDO is intended to improve understanding of the workload and operational realities faced by attorneys and staff who represent people who cannot afford counsel, and to provide a stronger statistical foundation for research and policy discussions about access to counsel and the functioning of public defense systems.
Key administrative details include an anticipated single award with an expected maximum (award ceiling) of $1,000,000. The opportunity number is O-BJS-2022-171331, and it was originally posted May 13, 2022, with an original closing date of July 6, 2022. Eligible applicants are broad and include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. In short, the competition is open to organizations that can credibly manage a national statistical collection, including survey operations, respondent outreach, data management, and delivery of high-quality public-sector datasets and reporting.Apply for O BJS 2022 171331
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2022 Census of Public Defender Offices" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.734.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 13, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 06, 2022. (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 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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.
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FAQs: FY 2022 Census of Public Defender Offices (CPDO) - BJS/OJP
What is the FY 2022 Census of Public Defender Offices (CPDO) funding opportunity?
The FY 2022 Census of Public Defender Offices (CPDO) is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), U.S. Department of Justice funding opportunity to support a nationwide data collection effort focused on public defender offices. It is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement under the Information and Statistics program area (CFDA 16.734).
Who is offering and administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), within the U.S. Department of Justice. It sits within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) policy context and priorities described in the solicitation.
What is the purpose of the CPDO project?
The core purpose is to administer an updated census of roughly 1,000 state and local public defender offices across the United States and produce consistent, national-level information about how public defender offices function in practice.
What kinds of information is the census intended to collect?
The census is intended to document public defender offices "on the ground," with particular attention to operations and workload, staffing levels and staffing models, and office policies and procedures, including the resources offices have and the rules or practices that guide representation delivered to indigent clients.
How many offices are expected to be included in the CPDO?
The solicitation describes the census as covering roughly 1,000 state and local public defender offices nationwide.
How does CPDO relate to previous BJS data collections?
The CPDO is positioned as part of BJS's broader effort to measure indigent defense in the United States. It is intended to build on and extend earlier BJS collections, specifically the Survey of Public Defenders (SPD) and the National Survey of Indigent Defense Systems (NSIDS).
What is the expected period of performance?
The project is structured as a 36-month effort, reflecting the scale and complexity of a national census.
What are the major phases of the project?
The solicitation anticipates four major phases: (1) questionnaire development, (2) frame development, (3) fielding the CPDO (survey administration and follow-up), and (4) data processing and delivery (cleaning, analysis, and submission of datasets and documentation).
What does "questionnaire development" mean in this solicitation?
Questionnaire development is the phase where the data collection instrument is improved and finalized. BJS will provide a draft data collection instrument as a starting questionnaire, and the awardee is expected to refine it as needed.
What does "frame development" mean for the CPDO?
Frame development refers to assembling the definitive national list (roster) of all eligible public defender offices and establishing contact pathways. The solicitation notes the awardee is responsible for building a complete and accurate roster (the census "frame").
What does "fielding the CPDO" involve?
Fielding refers to administering the census and conducting follow-up to maximize participation, response, and data completeness across eligible public defender offices.
What is included in "data processing and delivery"?
After data are gathered, the grantee must complete the full production cycle described in the solicitation: data cleaning, validation and quality checks, analysis, and delivery of both raw and finalized datasets to BJS, along with documentation.
What deliverables are expected at the end of the project?
The solicitation describes end-to-end implementation and concludes with a comprehensive final performance report documenting methods, outcomes, and deliverables. It also requires delivering both raw and finalized datasets to BJS after cleaning, validation, and analysis.
What type of award is this?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a "cooperative agreement"?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, the agency typically expects active involvement from BJS during the project. The solicitation indicates involvement may include coordination on instrument changes, methodological choices, deliverable review, and dissemination planning.
How many awards does the solicitation anticipate?
The solicitation anticipates a single award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The expected maximum (award ceiling) is $1,000,000.
What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?
The opportunity number is O-BJS-2022-171331.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The solicitation was originally posted May 13, 2022, with an original closing date of July 6, 2022.
What is the program area and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is under the Information and Statistics program area (CFDA 16.734).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are broad and include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
What kinds of organizational capabilities does this solicitation seem to require?
Based on the described scope, the competition is open to organizations that can credibly manage a national statistical collection, including survey operations, respondent outreach, data management, and delivery of high-quality public-sector datasets and reporting.
What policy priorities does OJP emphasize in the context of this opportunity?
The larger policy context emphasized by OJP includes advancing civil rights and racial equity, expanding access to justice, supporting people impacted by the justice system (including victims), strengthening community safety, and building trust between communities and the justice system.
What role does BJS play during the project?
BJS is expected to coordinate closely with the awardee. The solicitation indicates BJS will provide a draft data collection instrument and will be actively involved through coordination on instrument refinements, methodological decisions, review of deliverables, and dissemination planning.
What is the grantee expected to do versus what BJS provides?
BJS provides a draft questionnaire as a starting point. The awardee is expected to refine the questionnaire, build the census frame, administer the collection to achieve broad participation, and complete the full data production cycle, including cleaning, validation, analysis, and delivery of raw and finalized datasets and documentation to BJS, culminating in a final performance report.
Why is this described as a "census" rather than a sample survey?
The solicitation describes a nationwide census of roughly 1,000 state and local public defender offices and emphasizes building a complete roster of eligible offices and pursuing broad participation, which reflects a census-style approach rather than sampling a subset.
What is the intended use or value of the CPDO data?
The CPDO is intended to improve understanding of the workload and operational realities faced by attorneys and staff representing people who cannot afford counsel, and to provide a stronger statistical foundation for research and policy discussions about access to counsel and the functioning of public defense systems.
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| FY 2023 Survey of State Parole Agencies on Reentry Services Apply for O BJS 2023 171646 Funding Number: O BJS 2023 171646 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| FY 2023 National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) Apply for O BJS 2023 171664 Funding Number: O BJS 2023 171664 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $70,000,000 |
| FY 2023 Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories Apply for O BJS 2023 171668 Funding Number: O BJS 2023 171668 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| FY 2023 Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program, 2023-2026 Apply for O BJS 2023 171654 Funding Number: O BJS 2023 171654 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $1,600,000 |
| FY 2023 Census of Prosecutor Offices Apply for O BJS 2023 171690 Funding Number: O BJS 2023 171690 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| FY 2023 Annual Survey of Jails in Indian Country, 2024-27 Apply for O BJS 2023 171697 Funding Number: O BJS 2023 171697 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $550,000 |
| FY 2023 NICS Act Record Improvement Program Apply for O BJS 2023 171710 Funding Number: O BJS 2023 171710 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
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| FY 2023 Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional Facilities 2024 Apply for O BJS 2023 171732 Funding Number: O BJS 2023 171732 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $625,000 |
| International Media Reporting Program Apply for SFOP0009609 Funding Number: SFOP0009609 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Global Public Affairs Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $600,000 |
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