FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Drones as First Responders
🏛 National Institute of Justice (USDOJ-OJP-NIJ)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 23, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research and evaluation of drone technology used by law enforcement as first responders. Local governments and their units—including police departments and research institutions partnering with law enforcement—can apply. The focus is on evaluating existing drone programs or piloting new ones to combat violent crime and support immigration enforcement. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to conduct rigorous research or evaluation in collaboration with law enforcement partners.
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Program description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Drones as First Responders. This opportunity seeks proposals for rigorous evaluations of implementations of drone technology to combat violent crime, immigration enforcement, and other law enforcement activities.
The goal of this NOFO is to provide actionable information about police implementation of small drones through a collaboration between law enforcement agencies and researchers. NIJ welcomes research and evaluation of drones as first responders (DFR) capabilities, including evaluation of existing capabilities or pilot programs at police departments already using DFR, as well as implementation of new pilot programs or demonstrations. NIJ expects research entities and law enforcement agencies to collaborate on implementing DFR and evaluating operational performance. Law enforcement agencies participating in evaluations will have the option to retain any DFR technology purchased through the NOFO at the study’s conclusion.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (research and evaluation plan)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational Capacity statement
- Letters of Support from law enforcement partners
- Evaluation Design and Data Plan
- Qualifications of key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 National Institute of Justice
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-616-5314
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.560 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$18,393,640
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$13,250,000
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$12,361,120
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$6,998,958
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$5,997,434
-
$5,691,859
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$4,581,851
-
$4,501,620
-
$4,000,000
-
$3,416,415
Top States by Funding
- NC 10 awards $42.3M
- VA 14 awards $28.8M
- PA 3 awards $14.3M
- CA 8 awards $13.3M
- MA 12 awards $12.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.560). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $57,808,937 | |
| 2025 | $3,183,371 |
FAQ
Can my police department apply directly?
Yes. Law enforcement agencies can apply alone or partner with research entities. NIJ expects collaboration between both.
What types of research are eligible?
Evaluations of existing drone programs, pilots for new capabilities, operational performance studies, and implementation assessments.
When is the deadline?
November 30, 2026. This is a fixed deadline; rolling submissions are not accepted.
Can we keep the drone equipment?
Yes. Law enforcement agencies may retain purchased DFR technology after the study ends.
Is there cost-sharing required?
No. This grant does not require cost-sharing or matching funds.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Partner early. Collaborate with law enforcement and research teams before writing to clarify roles and data access.
- Focus on rigor. Emphasize rigorous evaluation methods, data collection plans, and analysis frameworks.
- Show feasibility. Explain how you'll operationalize drones and overcome real-world implementation challenges.
- Address law enforcement priorities. Connect your evaluation to actual crimes or enforcement activities in your jurisdiction.
- Plan sustainability. Discuss how findings will be used and how retained technology improves operations long-term.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak partnerships. Applying without firm commitments from law enforcement agencies limits credibility and operational access. Unclear evaluation design. Proposals lacking specific metrics, data sources, or rigorous methodology get rejected. Overpromising outcomes. Avoid claims about crime reduction without solid evaluation frameworks to measure impact.
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