FY26 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Competitive Grants Program
🏛 Bureau of Justice Assistance (USDOJ-OJP-BJA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for states and units of local government with existing crime laboratories. Eligible applicants include state and local agencies that operate publicly funded forensic DNA labs. The grant supports DNA processing capacity and Rapid DNA technology in booking stations.
Geographic scope is national, but applicants must have operational crime laboratories. Units of local government include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state.
Funded activities include increasing DNA analysis capacity for CODIS entry and implementing Rapid DNA technology. Priority is given to jurisdictions facing operational challenges, measured by performance metrics from forensic DNA labs.
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Program description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) — Competitive Grants Program. This opportunity will increase capacity of states and units of local government with existing crime laboratories to process DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The purpose of the CEBR Competitive Program is to maximize the effective utilization of DNA technology to strengthen evidence-based criminal justice responses. The priorities of the CEBR Competitive Program are (1) to use DNA technology to increase the capacity and/or efficiency of publicly funded forensic DNA laboratories to conduct analysis of DNA samples for entry into CODIS and (2) implementing Rapid DNA in the booking station(s) in eligible jurisdictions. The program is designed to fairly and efficiently prioritize jurisdictions facing operational challenges by considering key performance measures reported by publicly funded forensic DNA laboratories.
This program is for Competitive funding only. The BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) — Formula Grants Program for formula funding will post at a later date. Eligible agencies may apply for both Competitive and Formula CEBR Funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (OMB form)
- Project Narrative/Statement of Need
- Evaluation Plan
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Management Plan
- Letters of Support
- Performance metrics from forensic DNA laboratory
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Justice Assistance
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-514-9354
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.036 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$3,243,893
-
$3,136,178
-
$2,808,230
-
$2,671,284
-
$2,461,059
-
$2,459,640
-
$2,378,897
-
$2,257,585
-
$2,122,317
-
$2,033,717
Top States by Funding
- TX 8 awards $9.7M
- CA 9 awards $9.7M
- NY 10 awards $6.6M
- FL 6 awards $6.0M
- GA 3 awards $3.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.036). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $105,366,613 | |
| 2025 | $253,789 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
States and units of local government operating publicly funded forensic DNA laboratories. Tribal, federal, and private labs are ineligible.
What happens if my jurisdiction has both a state and local lab?
Each may apply separately for competitive funding. Eligible agencies can apply for both Competitive and Formula CEBR funding.
What activities are supported?
Increasing DNA analysis capacity for CODIS entry and implementing Rapid DNA technology in booking stations.
How is funding prioritized?
Jurisdictions facing operational challenges receive priority based on performance metrics reported by forensic DNA labs.
What is the application deadline?
The fixed deadline is November 3, 2026. Submit early to avoid technical issues.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Collect your lab's performance data before applying. Include DNA case backlogs, processing timelines, and current capacity metrics.
- Clearly explain how funding will reduce your backlog. Connect the proposed project directly to operational challenges your lab faces.
- If implementing Rapid DNA, show how booking station integration will improve case processing speed and investigative outcomes.
- Budget realistically for equipment, personnel, and training. Include cost breakdowns for each major project component.
- Partner with other agencies if possible. Multi-jurisdictional proposals often demonstrate broader impact.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without existing crime lab infrastructure or public funding status. Proposing activities outside DNA analysis capacity or Rapid DNA implementation. Failing to demonstrate specific operational challenges with supporting performance data.
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