BJA FY25 Forensic Ballistics and Higher Education Program
Funds public, private, and state-controlled institutions of higher education to partner with local law enforcement and ATF to provide hands-on forensic ballistics and crime gun intelligence training that prepares students for the forensic science and law enforcement workforce.
⚑ Applicants must be institutions of higher education with established academic programs in criminal justice, forensic science, or related field. · Program requires partnership with local law enforcement and ATF. · Funding is for curriculum development/expansion and hands-on training, not general research. · Award ceiling: $1,207,403.
This is primarily a forensic science / law-enforcement workforce training program focused on ballistic analysis, NIBIN, and crime gun intelligence. IPPRA’s team studies public opinion, risk perception, weather/energy/security attitudes, and education policy evaluation—not clinical or technical forensic training—so this is not a plausible PI-level fit.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-08-06
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 40 partial | peripheral portfolio topic: public_health; signature methods: community engaged; social/behavioral work is minor; funds training education, not research (capped); capped at 40 (non-research funding) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 40 partial | technical depth: substantial; funds training education (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 10 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2025 Forensic Ballistics and Higher Education Program. This program enables public and state-controlled institutions of higher education to partner with local law enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to develop or build upon current specialized curricula that provide comprehensive forensic education in firearm ballistics and crime gun intelligence (CGI). Since foundational curricula in crime gun intelligence, National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) operations, and forensic ballistics have already been developed and piloted, this NOFO will support hands-on training for students to gain proficiency and competency in firearms evidence processing, ballistic analysis using NIBIN, CGI generation, and investigative methodologies that support criminal apprehension and conviction. The program will increase the pipeline of trained professionals entering the forensic science and law enforcement workforce while building sustainable partnerships between higher education and law enforcement agencies to combat violent gun crime. This funding opportunity will expand geographic reach and create replicable frameworks for national dissemination.
Eligibility
Educational Organizations: Private, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education with established academic programs in criminal justice, forensic science, or related field.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Bureau of Justice Assistance <OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
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Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
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