The mission of the Division of Criminal Justice is to improve the public safety of the community, the quality of services to crime victims, and the effectiveness of services to offenders. This is accomplished by analyzing policy, conducting criminal justice research, managing programs, and administering grants.

Applications for the Multidisciplinary Crime Prevention and Crisis Intervention Grant Program must be completed and submitted through Colorado’s online application system, ZoomGrants. Failure to submit a complete project application may result in denial of funding. If you experience problems or have questions about how to use ZoomGrants, please contact dcjgms@state.co.us. DCJ support ends at 5:00PM MST, May 29, 2024. To assist you in developing an application you should read this announcement, application instructions and FAQs prior to applying.

Apply Now in ZoomGrants

Amount Available: 3 Million

Award Period: October 1, 2024 - June 30, 2026

Match: Match is not a requirement for this funding.

Exclusions and Limitations: Applicants may not use more than ten percent of the total yearly grant award for administrative costs.
 

Provide grant funding to eligible recipients to provide collaborative support for community-based, multidisciplinary approaches to crime prevention and crisis intervention strategies, specifically in areas where crime is disproportionately high.

Eligible grant recipients include: 

• Community-based organizations and nonprofit agencies
• Local law enforcement agencies
• Federally recognized tribes with jurisdiction in Colorado
• Local health or human service agencies
• Third-party membership organizations or administrators on behalf of eligible grant recipients. Any third-party grant administrator shall:
  • Be a nonprofit organization in good standing with the secretary of state's office; 
  • Have experience as a third-party administrator for a state, multistate, federal, or foundation grant program; Be capable of providing a unified case management, financial, and data collection system related to services and payments received under the grant program; 
  • Be capable of providing technical assistance and other organizational development services to grantees to improve delivery of services, financial management, or data collection; and 
  • Have experience and competency in working with underserved communities, particularly, communities of color.

Crime Prevention and Crisis Intervention strategies may include: 

• Violence interruption programs 
• Early intervention teams
• Primary and secondary violence prevention programs
• Restorative justice services
• Co-responder programs
• Other research-informed crime and crisis prevention and recidivism reduction programs
• Support-team-assisted response programs

The Colorado State Patrol and any local law enforcement agency that fails to meet its reporting requirements pursuant to this section “24-31-903 is:  (a) Subject to the suspension of its funding by its appropriating authority;  and (b) Unless The Colorado State Patrol or local law enforcement agency is working with the Division of Criminal Justice to meet its reporting requirements pursuant to this section, not eligible to be awarded grants under the Multidisciplinary Crime Prevention Grant Program in section 24-33.5-527, The Law Enforcement Workforce Recruitment, Retention, and Tuition Grant Program in section 24-33.5-528, or the State's Mission For Assistance In Recruiting and Training (Smart) Policing Grant Program in section 24-33.5-529."

The Advisory Committee will evaluate applications on the following criteria:

• Which communities have the greatest need, including communities where many of these services are not available due to size or geographic location
• Applicant’s level of cultural competency, gender-responsiveness, and level of representation of the individuals the applicant seeks to serve
• Level of collaboration, including partnerships between governmental agencies, Community-Based Organizations, and the community

For grant applications involving law enforcement entities, the Advisory Committee will also consider: 

• Details on how the entity will take measures to ensure collaboration with communities and other agencies in developing the plan; 
• Details, including data, on why a specific area needs increased law enforcement presence; and
• A plan to ensure that law enforcement will work with the community to foster a positive relationship between law enforcement and the impacted community.  

The Crime Prevention and Intervention Advisory Committee will meet and make funding recommendations in late June/early July. 

Applications that are denied funding may submit an appeal within 3 days of notification, however, appeals may only contain clarifying information specific to the reasons noted in the denial notification and cannot contain new information.

There will be two opportunities to drop-in and ask questions live and one training session walking you through the application process. Use this link for all pop-ins and training.

Training: How to Apply - May 14, 2024, 1:30 - 2:30

Live Question Session: May 21, 2024, 11:00 - 11:45

If awarded, grantees will be required to sign a Grant Agreement. 

Grantees will be required to submit quarterly financial and quarterly programmatic reports describing how the grant funds were utilized, including data and other relevant information on performance metrics. Performance metrics will be outlined at the time of the award.

Announcement date:  May 6, 2024

Application deadline: Monday, June 10, 2024

Funding decisions announced: late-June/Early July 2024

Reconsideration/appeals deadline: 3-days Post Notification of Denial

Grant Agreement Issuance: Mid-August/Early September 2024

Award Period: October 1, 2024 - June 30, 2026

Applicants may apply for up to 21 months of funding with the award period beginning October 1, 2024.
 

Rebecca Oakes, Grant Program Manager
Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA
Phone: ( 720) 456-2098
E-mail: Rebecca.Oakes@state.co.us

If you experience problems or have questions about how to use ZoomGrants, please contact dcjgms@state.co.us.

The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradoans. The Division of Criminal Justice is committed to making its physical campus and digital resources accessible to everyone. The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) strives to ensure equal access to the services we provide to everyone with and without disabilities. To best meet reasonable accommodation needs for effective communication or a reasonable modification to programs, services, or activities, please contact us a week prior to the activity or event.

DCJ will make every effort to provide requested reasonable accommodations, however, failure to notify DCJ of requested accommodations at least 3 business days prior to the date of the activity or event date may result in delay or denial of the accommodation.

If you experience problems or have questions about how to use ZOOMGRANTS
contact Gillian Trickett at DCJGMS@state.co.us.

Questions regarding the application or program (other than technical Zoomgrants issues) contact Rebecca Oakes at Rebecca Oakes - CDPS.

ZoomGrants has tabs at the top of the application process. Following are specific instructions for the questions under each Tab within ZoomGrants. 

Project Name/Project Title: Please be descriptive of the project to be funded and do not label it merely “Crime Prevention/Intervention Grant Program.”  It should be unique to your project and agency.

Amount Requested: Enter the amount of funding requested in this application.

Applicant Information:* (Account Owner) Enter the name and contact information of the person that will be responsible for this account. 

Organization Information*: Enter all requested information for the applicant agency.

CEO/Executive Director* (if NA, enter Signature Authority): If the applicant agency does not have a CEO/Executive Director, enter the individual that is authorized to enter into a legally binding contract with DCJ.

If you have questions about updating your Organization Information, please contact Cindy Johnson at CindyA.Johnson@state.co.us. 
 

* Returning DCJ ZoomGrants users will already have this information populated. Changes made to these fields may only be performed by the Account Owner and will update all applications/grants associated with this account. DO NOT CHANGE the Organizational information without first consulting Cindy Johnson Changing information that has already been validated may result in a delay in processing payments or other aspects of your grant application.

(Q1) Legal Entity Name: If your agency is a DBA (doing business as), the Legal name will be different than the Applicant Agency Name.  If your agency is NOT a DBA, then the Applicant Agency Name and Legal Entity name will be the same.

(Q2) Legal Entity Physical Address: Street Address, City, State, Zip + 4

(Q3) Legal Entity County Enter the county of your legal entity address.

(Q4) Organization Type Choose your organization type from the list: 

• Colorado County or Municipal Government: This includes local law enforcement agencies and local health or human services agencies.
• Tribal Government: Federally recognized tribes with jurisdiction in Colorado.
• Community-Based Organization: Organization must be a legal entity with an IRS number and must be in good standing with the Secretary of State’s Office.
• Not for Profit Organization: This includes community-based organizations, and third-party organizations or administrators applying on behalf of eligible grant recipients. Organization must:
  • Be in good standing with the Secretary of State’s Office; 
  • Have experience as a third-party administrator for a state, multistate, federal, or foundation grant program;
  • Be capable of providing a unified case management, financial, and data collection system related to services and payments received under the grant program; and
  • Have experience and competency in working with underserved communities, particularly communities of color

Organize goals and objectives. Make sure objectives are measurable and viable.

Use only whole dollar amounts in your budget and be sure to have the financial person who will be working on the project with you look over and verify your proposed budget.

Justify and explain all budget items and calculations in the budget narrative.  Example:  price per unit x number of units = total price for all units

Double-check budget descriptions to make sure they contain a sufficient level of detail and all figures total correctly.

PROJECT DURATION:

(Q1) Project Start Date: Enter “07/01/2023” or a later date

(Q2) Project End Date: Enter “06/30/2024” or an earlier date

Primary Contact
(Q3) Applicant Primary Contact: Name, phone, email address This is the individual who will be contacted during the review period and will be notified of award decisions and next steps. Enter the name, telephone number, and e-mail address.

Project Officials
Project Officials: (Q4-13) You must have a minimum of three contacts for this application, the Project Director, Financial Officer, and Signature Authority (also called the Authorized Official). All three must be from the applicant agency and must be unique individuals; one person cannot serve in more than one role.

(Q4) Project Director: Name This must be an individual other than the authorized official or financial officer and must be from the applicant agency. The project director is the individual who will be in direct charge of the project and must be within the organizational structure of the applicant agency. This should be a person who combines knowledge and experience in the project area with ability in administration and supervision of personnel and will be expected to devote a major portion of his/her time to the project. This person will be required to sign all quarterly reports and other grant forms. Enter salutation, first, last, title, and agency for the project director (e.g. Mrs. Sally Smith, Program Coordinator, ABC Company)

(Q5) Project Director: Email Address Enter e-mail address for the project director to be used for primary communication.

(Q6) Project Director: Phone Number Enter primary phone number for the project director.

(Q7) Financial Officer: Name This must be an individual other than the project director or authorized official and must be from the applicant agency. The financial officer is the person who will be responsible for financial matters relating to the project and is in ultimate charge of accounting, management of funds, verification of expenditures, and grant financial reports. Enter salutation, first, last, title, agency (e.g. Mr. John Doe, Senior Accountant, ABC Accounting Services)

(Q8) Financial Officer: Email Address Enter e-mail address for the financial officer to be used for primary communication.

(Q9) Financial Officer: Phone Number Enter primary phone number for the financial officer.

(Q10) Signature Authority: Name This must be an individual other than the project director or financial officer. This is the individual authorized to enter into binding commitments on behalf of the applicant agency. For local units of government, this will normally be a city manager, mayor, district attorney, and/or the chair of the county commission. At the state level, this individual will be a department or division head. Enter salutation, first, last, title, agency (e.g. Ms. Jane Austen, County Commissioner Chair, ABC Company).

(Q11) Signature Authority: Mailing Address Enter mailing address for the signature authority to be used for mailing documents related to this application. Enter Street Address, City, State, Zip + 4 (e.g. 700 Kipling Street, Suite 1000, Lakewood, CO 80215-8957

(Q12) Signature Authority: Email Address Enter e-mail address for the signature authority to be used for primary communication.

(Q13) Signature Authority: Phone Number Enter primary phone number for the signature authority.
 

STATEMENT OF WORK:

(Q14) Project Summary: When read separately from the rest of the application, this summary should serve as a succinct and accurate description of the proposed work. This will be used for publication and reporting purposes.

(Q15) Project Description: Describe your project in detail. Applicants must provide enough detail within this application for a reader to fully understand what the project is, what it will be doing, and how it will impact the described problem.  

Include the following:

• A description of the problem in terms of causes and consequences.  Articulate why this problem should be addressed.  
• Use evidence-informed practices to describe your proposed approach.
• The extent and nature of the problem in your target population and/or community. Use data to support your description. 
• The applicant’s level of cultural competency, gender responsiveness, and level of representation of the individuals the applicant seeks to serve.  

(Q16) Eligible Activities: Select all that Apply.

• Violence interruption programs
• Early intervention teams
• Primary and secondary violence prevention programs
• Restorative justice services
• Co-responder programs
• Other research-informed crime and crisis prevention and recidivism reduction programs
• Support-team-assisted response program

(Q17) Availability of Services: Describe similar services that are available in your community and what agencies provide such services. What factors contribute to the availability or lack of availability of services (e.g., size, geographic location)? (3,000 characters) 

(Q18) Improve Relationships: Provide details on how the entity will take measures to ensure collaboration between communities and other agencies.

For law enforcement agencies, please include:

• Details, including data, on why a specific area needs increased law enforcement presence; and
• A plan to ensure that law enforcement will work with the community to foster a positive relationship between law enforcement and the impacted community.

(3,000 characters)

(Q19) Sustainability: How does your agency plan to sustain this project after the grant funding ends? Include any possible strategies for working with other organizations to blend or braid funding.  (3,000 characters)

These are the elements against which the project will be evaluated and which will be used to report quarterly and final progress. Using the format below; provide project/program goal(s), objectives/outcomes, measurement, and timeframe.

Goals: Goals are broad statements (i.e., written in general terms) that convey a project's overall intent to change, reduce, or eliminate the problem described.  Goals are logical, sensible, clearly written and directly tied to the project. Write one but not more than three goals your project will focus on.

Objectives: Objectives are specific, measurable actions to reach the project’s desired results/ goal(s). They should be logically tied to your project plan and be achievable within the grant period. Please write at least one measurable objective for each goal. Objective statements should include:
The specific type of change or improvement that will occur 
The estimated benefit or impact of the expected change
How or why the change is required as a step to reach the goal

Measurement: is the description of what data will be collected to measure the change. Please describe the specific measurement tool(s) you will use to collect data for each objective.  If you do not have a tool, please state TBD (To Be Determined).

Timeframe:  The quarter in which the objective will be completed.

Tables Tab Budget & Budget Narrative

General Budget Instructions

• The budget must cover the entire project duration.
• Use WHOLE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ONLY in your budget. When necessary, round to the next highest whole dollar amount. 
• Be sure to have the financial person who will be working on the project with you look over and verify your proposed budget.
• Requested Budget Items should be detailed, reasonable, specifically defined, and justified and the applicant should demonstrate how the costs were determined. Example:  price per unit x number of units = total price for all units. Double-check they contain a sufficient level of detail and all figures add correctly.
• The budget is broken into seven Budget Categories: Personnel, Supplies and Operating, Travel, Equipment, Consultant/Professional Services, and Indirect Costs.

Only 10% of a request can be utilized for the administration of this grant. The Budget Categories within ZoomGrants are separated between Administrative and Program Costs. Any indirect is automatically an administrative cost. Please provide enough narrative justification to demonstrate the cost is in the right section.    

Personnel
This budget category should be used when employees are positions within the applicant agency and the implementing agency is a division (under the same unit of government) of the applicant agency. The Personnel Budget should consider overtime, time needed to acquire new staff, and changing demands for personnel during the course of the project. If the implementing agency is contracted by the applicant agency (i.e., non-profit organization), these costs should be included in Consultants/Contracts (Professional Services).

Questions regarding the difference between a contract employee and a regular employee may be directed to the Internal Revenue Service. Contract employees or independent contractors should be shown under Consultants/Contracts (Professional Services).

Each position must be listed separately and be accompanied by a description that provides justification for the amount requested and details the basis for determining the cost of each position. For each position, explain how the salary and fringe benefit rates were determined. OT = Overtime

NOTE:  This grant program has a 10% administrative cost maximum. Please ensure you are adding staff to the correct section. Administrative staff are usually those with tasks related to the organization and grant management, including reporting and data collection. Program staff are necessary to deliver services.

Position Title and Name:  Add each position by title and name of employee. If the employee has not been hired please indicate TBD. Because this funding crosses state fiscal years each employee should have two separate lines for salary.

One line should reflect salary and fringe information for October 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 and a second line should reflect salary and fringe for July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.

Base Salary: 
Enter the base, full-time salary or base pay in two separate lines for each position to be supported with grant funds. 

• Enter one line item using 9 months as your base salary (10/01/2024 - 06/30/2025), and 
• Enter one line item using 12 months as your base salary (07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026)

Base Salary to be Paid by Grant Funds: Enter the base salary or base pay for the position to be paid by grant funds.

% to be paid by Grant Funds: ZoomGrants will automatically calculate this % based on the amounts you entered in the salary columns.

Base Fringe: Enter the amount of Fringe Benefits for the position.

BaseFringe to Be Paid by Grant Funds: Enter the base salary  fringe for the position to be paid by Grant funds.

% to be paid by Grant Funds: ZoomGrants will automatically calculate this % based on the amounts you entered in the base salary fringe columns.

Total Base Salary + Fringe: ZoomGrants will automatically calculate this total based on the amounts you entered in the base  salary and fringe columns.

Total Base Salary + Fringe to Be Paid by Grant Funds: ZoomGrants will automatically calculate this total based on the amounts you entered in the base salary and fringe columns.

OT - Base Salary: Enter the base overtime base pay for the position.

OT - Base Salary To Be Paid By Grant Funds: Enter the base overtime base pay for the position to be paid by grant funds.

OT - Fringe: Enter the amount of overtime Fringe Benefits for the position.

OT - Fringe To Be Paid By Grant Funds: Enter the base salary overtime Fringe Benefits for the position to be paid by grant funds.

Total To Be Paid By Grant Funds (including overtime): ZoomGrants will automatically calculate this total based on the amounts you entered in the overtime base salary and fringe columns.

Personnel Budget Narrative and Justification: Explain how the salary and fringe benefit rates for this position were determined. An explanation and justification are required if the budget is not for an entry-level position. If the salary is expected to increase during the project year, indicate the percentage of the increase, and the months covered by the increase, and justify it. Be sure that the scheduled salary increase has been included in the annual base salary row, and that the proposed annual base salary is one that is paid for equivalent positions and employee qualifications in your area.

Non-Personnel - Budget and Budget Narrative Table
The applicant must provide a justification and explanation of the budget items listed in each Budget Category, as well as detailing the basis for determining the cost of each item. All budget figures should be justified and explained. The budget narrative should show the relationship between budget figures and proposed project operations. For example, if this is a training project, explanation of the Consultants/Contracts budget category amount should include an explanation of the need for consultants to provide the training and the hourly cost of the services to be provided.

OAJJA recognizes that governments are constantly faced with the challenges of limited resources. It is important that you describe how maximizing resources will be accomplished and that this project is not duplicating services.

NOTE:  This grant program has a 10% administrative cost maximum. Please ensure you are adding budget items to the correct section. Administrative costs are those needed to administer and grant manage this project. Program budget items are necessary to deliver services.

Supplies and Operating
Items with a per unit cost of less than $5,000 are considered supplies and should be listed in this category. Items costing $5,000 or more should be listed under Equipment (see D below). If software is being purchased, regardless of the price, it belongs in the Supplies and Operating category. If custom development of software is contracted out, it is subject to prior approval by OAJJA and should be shown in the Consultants/Contracts (Professional Services) Budget. All purchases should be made through competitive bid, state or local award, or established purchasing/procurement procedures. 

NOTE: Tuition and registration fees (even if they include lodging and/or subsistence), vehicle gas, leases, and maintenance on project- or government-owned vehicles are operating expenses not travel. These types of costs must be shown in the Supplies and Operating category.

Large items should be listed and justified (e.g., unusual supply items, software, special printing, etc.)

Supplies and Operating Budget Narrative and Justification: Explain how the cost of each item was determined and justify the need for the item.

Travel
Add mileage expenses for project personnel by purpose and show a basis for computation. Indicate if the travel is in-state or out-of-state.

• Out-of-state travel is discouraged and needs to be thoroughly justified and tied to the project goals and objectives. 
• Where a jurisdiction has an established travel policy, those rates may be used. Otherwise, state travel rates are the maximum allowed. 
• Mileage: Allowable State travel rates for mileage are $0.60/mile for 2WD and $0.64/mile for 4WD.
• Lodging: In-state is the actual cost of reasonable accommodations. However, lodging costs in excess of $107.00 must have prior approval of the Project Director. Out-of-state costs should be federal GSA rates, and reasonable.
• Meals: Exceptions to the following rates are available from the DCJ for higher-cost metropolitan areas.\

In-State
Rates per Meal:
Breakfast $13.00
Lunch $15.00
Dinner    $26.00
Total per diem: $59.00
Incidentals: $5.00

NOTE: Tuition and registration fees (even if they include lodging and/or subsistence), vehicle gas, leases, and maintenance on the project- or government-owned vehicles are operating expenses not travel. These types of costs must be shown in the Supplies and Operating category.

Budget Narrative and Justification: Explain the relationship of each cost item to the project, (e.g., if training or conference travel expenses are requested, explain the topic of the conference and its relationship to the project, you must explain why this training cannot be achieved in-state). Out-of-state travel is discouraged and needs to be thoroughly justified.  

Equipment
Add each item separately, by unit cost. This category should include all items with a unit cost of $5,000 or more and useful life of more than one year. Items not meeting these criteria should be included in the Supplies and Operating category. Equipment must be justified as necessary and not currently available.

If the proposed equipment is to be shared with entities outside this project, the cost should be prorated based upon the percentage of use of the equipment by this project. DCJ must provide prior written approval for the actual purchase of all equipment, separate from approval to fund the project. All equipment must be purchased through competitive bid, state or local award, or established purchasing/procurement procedures.

Equipment Budget Narrative and Justification: Explain how the cost of each item was determined. Explain why the proposed equipment is essential to conducting the project and is not currently available for use within your agency or organization.

Consultants/Contracts (Professional Services)
List each consultant, contractor, or type of service with the proposed fee (by eight-hour day or hourly rate). If the applicant agency is contracting with an outside agency to conduct the day-to-day operations of the project, the total cost should be in Consultants/Contracts (Professional Services).

*Application must contain a detailed budget and budget narrative for anything listed under Contracted, Consultant and Professional Services.

Rates (honoraria are not an allowable expense) for individual professional services must be based on an hourly rate (including preparation and travel time), and must have explicit, separate prior approval from DCJ. Rates for individual consultants/contractors cannot exceed $650 per day or $81.25 per hour.  Justification is required to establish a “usual” or “going rate” for similar services. Some consultants/contractors provide services at a flat rate rather than an hourly rate. If that is the case, identify the service to be provided, including all covered expenses such as travel, and the rate for each “unit” of service. Contact DCJ if you have questions.

Professional services should be procured competitively. Sole source contracts must be justified and must have specific prior written approval from DCJ before execution of any contract, separate from approval to fund the project.

Consultants/Contracts Budget Narrative and Justification:  Explain why proposed consultant/contract services cannot or should not be provided by project staff. Explain how the hourly rate or flat rate was determined. For each consulting organization added, indicate the number of people to be assigned to the project, number of hours per person per day to be spent on the project, and a breakdown of the contract price by major cost item (i.e., supplies, rent, equipment, travel, contracted services)

Indirect Costs
Indirect costs are costs of an organization that are not readily assignable to a particular project, but are necessary to the operation of the organization and the performance of the project. Examples of costs usually treated as indirect include those incurred for facility operation and maintenance, depreciation, and administrative salaries. Indirect costs must be applied uniformly and consistently within the applicant organization (i.e. you can not claim the modified total direct cost on one application and a federally negotiated rate on another.

Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICR): If the applicant agency has an existing NICR, you may request up to the approved rate. Attach your NICR to the Documents tab.

If the applicant meets any of the two requirements below, they are eligible to request indirect costs at the approved rate.  

Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) de minimis: If the applicant has never received a federal negotiated indirect cost rate, and is not required to have a federal negotiated indirect cost rate, they are eligible to request the "de minimis" rate which is 10% of the Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC).

When using this method, cost must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs, but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both.

What is the Modified Total Direct Cost, or MTDC? 
 

• This base includes all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and subawards up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award).
• MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs.

1 - Organizational Chart: Required if personnel is being requested. If your project has personnel in the budget category, you must attach your organizational chart in this section.

2 - Indirect Cost Rate: If applicable. If the applicant agency has an existing negotiated federal indirect cost rate (NICR) and is requesting indirect on this project, attach your NICR here.

3 - Financial Management Questionnaire (FMQ): Required

The Division of Criminal Justice is committed to a fair and impartial competitive application process. As such, any grant programmatic application questions and answers will be posted here. Please check this website frequently so you are getting the most up-to-date information.

Rebecca Oakes
Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA
E-mail: Rebecca.Oakes@state.co.us

If you experience problems or have questions about how to use ZoomGrants, please contact dcjgms@state.co.us.