Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2026 172617
The OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 2 is a discretionary Department of Justice funding opportunity run through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) that aims to boost prosecutorial capacity by placing experienced state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecutors into federally coordinated roles focused on complex criminal cases. The program is designed to help prosecuting agencies either assign existing staff or hire qualified prosecutors who will work full time as "Special Attorneys" under the direction of DOJ components such as the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office. While these prosecutors are cross-designated to operate in close coordination with federal authorities, they remain employees of their original (home) agencies throughout the appointment.
The core operational focus is investigating and prosecuting fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (described in the notice as "criminal aliens"). Depending on operational needs, cross-designated prosecutors may also be assigned cases involving drug trafficking or human trafficking occurring within the United States. A key feature of the program is that DOJ entities (including the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices) will coordinate directly with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis to work through logistics and address local conditions that may affect how assignments are carried out. In practice, the program is meant to create a stronger, more seamless working relationship between local and federal systems by providing personnel who can move effectively within joint investigations and prosecutions.
From a policy and capacity-building standpoint, the program is intended to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial resources, expand intergovernmental coordination, and improve jurisdictions' ability to pursue these cases effectively and consistently. It is also explicitly meant to increase the availability of cross-designated prosecutors who can take on these matters in partnership with federal authorities and support enforcement of applicable criminal laws. The legal authority cited for the program is Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101.
Administrative details provided in the source data include: the opportunity title is "OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 2" (Funding Opportunity Number: O-BJA-2026-172617); the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (which typically indicates substantial federal involvement during performance); and the activity category is Law, Justice, and Legal Services under CFDA 16.076. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and other units of local government, which the notice clarifies may include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state. The original application closing date listed is June 2, 2026, and the posting/creation date is May 21, 2026. The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the provided record, which usually means the cap is not specified in this excerpt and would need to be confirmed in the full NOFO.Apply for O BJA 2026 172617
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 2" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.076.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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FAQs: OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 2 (O-BJA-2026-172617)
What is the OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 2?
It is a discretionary U.S. Department of Justice funding opportunity administered through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The program is designed to increase prosecutorial capacity by placing experienced state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecutors into federally coordinated roles focused on complex criminal cases.
Which DOJ office runs this opportunity?
The opportunity is run through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-BJA-2026-172617.
What type of award is being offered?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means there is substantial federal involvement during the period of performance.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial resources, expand coordination across levels of government, and improve jurisdictions' ability to pursue complex cases effectively and consistently. It also seeks to increase the availability of cross-designated prosecutors who can work in partnership with federal authorities.
Who are the "Special Attorneys" in this program?
They are experienced prosecutors from state, local, Tribal, or territorial agencies who are assigned full time to federally coordinated roles. They may work under the direction of DOJ components such as the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or they may serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office.
Do Special Attorneys become federal employees?
No. Even though they are cross-designated and work closely with federal authorities, they remain employees of their original (home) agencies throughout the appointment.
Does the program support assigning existing prosecutors, hiring new prosecutors, or both?
It is designed to help prosecuting agencies either assign existing staff or hire qualified prosecutors who will work full time as Special Attorneys.
What types of cases are the program primarily focused on?
The core operational focus is on investigating and prosecuting fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (described in the notice as "criminal aliens").
Can Special Attorneys work on crimes other than fraud-related cases involving criminal aliens?
Yes. Depending on operational needs, cross-designated prosecutors may also be assigned to cases involving drug trafficking or human trafficking occurring within the United States.
Where do Special Attorneys work (e.g., locally or in federal offices)?
They may work in federally coordinated roles under DOJ components (such as the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division) or serve as SAUSAs embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office. The notice emphasizes close coordination with federal authorities while maintaining employment with the home agency.
How will DOJ coordinate with selected prosecutor offices?
DOJ entities (including the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices) will coordinate directly with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis to work through logistics and address local conditions that may affect how assignments are carried out.
What is meant by "cross-designated" in the context of this program?
It refers to prosecutors being designated to operate in close coordination with federal authorities for joint investigations and prosecutions, including service as SAUSAs when embedded in a U.S. Attorney's Office, while remaining employees of their home agencies.
What is the activity category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is Law, Justice, and Legal Services, and the CFDA listing shown is 16.076.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and other units of local government. The notice clarifies that "other units of local government" may include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state.
Is this opportunity open to federally recognized Tribal governments?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed among eligible applicants.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date listed is June 2, 2026.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting/creation date listed is May 21, 2026.
What is the legal authority for this program?
The legal authority cited is Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the provided record. This usually means the cap is not specified in that excerpt and would need to be confirmed in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
What does an award ceiling of "0" typically indicate in the record?
Based on the provided information, an award ceiling of 0 typically suggests the maximum award amount is not specified in the excerpted record and should be verified in the full NOFO.
What is the program trying to improve in practice?
In practice, the program is meant to create a stronger and more seamless working relationship between local and federal systems by providing personnel who can move effectively within joint investigations and prosecutions.
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