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OAJJA: Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Grant Program

Overview

The Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Grant Program is a funding opportunity offered through the Office of Adult and Juvenile Assistance (OAJJA).

The goal of the Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Grant Program is to allow the department and local governments to evaluate and design safer streets and neighborhood models that discourage crime, revitalize community image, and establish place-specific crime prevention strategies that account for geographic, cultural, economic, and social characteristics of the target areas. 

Resource:  SB22-001 Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Utilizing Design Management Strategies

THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY IS CLOSED. WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

Technical Assistance, Support & Resources

Between now and March 1, 2024 there are several opportunities (listed below) to receive assistance in developing your proposal and/or applying for the Crime Prevention Through Safer Streets Grant Program. The link to join webinars, training and office hours will remain the same.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

There is a strong relationship between crime, both residential and business, and the built environment of a location. The principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) seek to answer the question of “why is crime occurring in this place?” The principles include natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and space management.

Principles of CPTED

Natural surveillance: Maximize visibility of a space so that it is easy to identify an allowed user of a space versus one who is suspicious.

Access control: Ability to control access to a space and delineate whether it is public or private. This looks at how people are allowed to move through the space and clarifies who belongs in that area.

Territorial reinforcement: Create a “sense of ownership” for the normal users of a space which can deter criminals from using that space for deviant activities.

Space management: Create public spaces that are attractive and well maintained, encouraging the use of the space.

About the Funding Agency

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. We accomplish this by analyzing policy, conducting criminal justice research, managing programs, and administering grants.

Program Description

Purpose of the Funds

To award grant funding to eligible recipients for the evaluation of and design of safer streets and neighborhood models that discourage crime, revitalize community image, and establish place-specific crime prevention strategies that account for geographic, cultural, economic, and social characteristics of the target areas.  

Resource: SB22-001

Statutory Authority

C.R.S. 24-33.5-117. Crime prevention through safer streets grant program
 

Eligible Activities

The grant may be used for improvements designed to decrease the incidence of crime and create safer streets.  Such improvements may include:

  • Better lighting
  • Improved trash collection
  • Access control
  • Territorial reinforcement
  • Improved space management
  • Other improvements designed to decrease the incidence of crime and create safer streets

Required Application Components

All grant applications must address all of the following:

  • The target area and crime challenge the applicant hopes to address
  • Data regarding the incidence of crime in the target area, disaggregated by the type of crime, and demographic data
  • The specific projects the grant would fund
  • Measurable or observable goals to decrease the incidence of crime, disaggregated by the type of crime
  • Details on how the applicant has collaborated with communities and other agencies in developing the improvements to be funded under the application
  • Details on how the plan would prevent the displacement of homeless populations and harm to communities of color and vulnerable populations

Project Planning Resources

Purpose of the Grant

The purpose of the Safer Streets grant program is to provide an opportunity for local jurisdictions to:  

  • Objectively determine areas or locations experiencing high levels or patterns of criminal activity;
  • Involve local officials and community members in collaborative discussions regarding this criminal activity and actions that might be taken to reduce the likelihood of future crime;
  • Collaboratively develop environmentally-focused crime prevention strategies and identify potential actions that can be taken to improve public safety and community well-being;
  • Allow jurisdictions to seek grant funds to implement actions associated with their environmentally-focused crime reduction strategies.
     

Communities will need time to develop a project and application. To allow for adequate planning time, applications are due March 1, 2024. In addition, DCJ has developed some resources that may assist you during the planning time. 

  1. An outline of actions that may be useful as you move through the planning process is described below. These are suggested but not required to be followed.
  2. This link provides a more in depth planning assessment..

10 Action Items Associated with Developing a Proposal

  1. BACKGROUND: Review the Safer Streets grant announcement and relevant legislation to understand the purpose, expectations, and requirements of this grant program.
  2. BACKGROUND: Gain an understanding of the “crime prevention through environmental design” concept.
  3. IDENTIFY MEMBERS: This project requires collaboration between local officials and community stakeholders.  Identify the individuals who will be involved in the project.
  4. GATHER AND REVIEW DATA: Relevant data must be gathered and analyzed to identify crime patterns, types of crime being committed, and the locations of criminal activity.
  5. CREATE A COLLABORATIVE TEAM: A collaborative team must be formed to make determinations regarding potential target areas; a structure for conducting these team meetings should be created.
  6. IDENTIFY TARGET AREAS: The collaborative team, after considering data and community perspectives, should determine specific areas or “targets” that will be the focus of potential actions.
  7. IDENTIFY OPTIONS FOR REDUCING CRIME: Possible solutions, consistent with CPTED principles, should be considered, analyzed and approved for action.
  8. CONSIDER IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY: Contemplated actions must take into account community perspectives, the cultural, economic, and social characteristics of the potentially impacted community, and must not adversely impact homeless populations, communities of color, or vulnerable individuals.
  9. CREATE A PROPOSAL: A grant proposal, with a requested budget, should be developed, reviewed, approved, and submitted.
  10. IDENTIFY PERFORMANCE MEASURES: A plan should be developed to capture relevant data so that changes, impacts, or outcomes of this effort can be determined.
     

Funding Details

Amount Available

$3,754,944

Award period

July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2026

Match

Match is not a requirement for this funding.

Exclusions and Limitations

 

Money from the grant award may not be used for the following:

  • Hiring law enforcement or code enforcement personnel or peace officers
  • Facial recognition purposes
  • Surveillance programs that utilize networks of sensors to detect gunshots, commonly referred to as a “ShotSpotter” program

 

Eligibility

Eligible grant recipients include:

  • Local governmental agencies 
  • Local governmental agencies that partner with a community-based nonprofit organization

Evaluation

The Advisory Committee will evaluate applications on the following criteria:

  • Ability to demonstrate areas where crime is more prevalent.
  • Measurable or observable goals to decrease the incidence of crime
  • Sufficient consultation and collaboration with the relevant impacted community where a project would take place
  • Sufficient indication of community support for the projects included in the grant application.
  • Plan to prevent the displacement of homeless populations and harm to communities of color and vulnerable populations

The Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Advisory Committee will meet and make funding recommendations in mid-late November. 

Applications that are denied funding may submit an appeal within three (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.

Additional Information

Grant Agreements

 

If awarded, grantees will receive additional information regarding administrative requirements.

Sample Grant Agreements 

 

Post Award Reporting Requirements

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

Timeline

Announcement date: November 1, 2023

Planning time: November 1, 2023 - March 1, 2024 (application due date) 

Application deadline: March 1, 2024 

Funding decision announced: Early/Mid May

Reconsideration/appeals deadline: Approximately 3 days following Denial Notification

Grant Agreement Issuance: Late May/Early June

Award Period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026

How To Apply

The Crime Prevention through Safer Streets Grant Program Announcement is closed and no longer accepting applications. 

Once it opens information below will be available to assist applicants through the application process. 

The application will be available for applicants to apply via ZoomGrants

Project applications deadline will be provided here and must be submitted by the deadline provided.

Once opened, this project only accepts online application submissions. 

Failure to submit a complete project application may result in denial of funding.

Once the application reopens, applicants are highly recommended to read all of the Application Instructions. 

Once the application opens, the grant announcement, application, and instructions will be available via the ZoomGrants.

Project Application Tips

  • 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.

Application Instructions

Summary Tab

Project Name/Project Title: Please be descriptive of the project to be funded and do not label it merely “Safer Streets 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 303-239-4443.

* 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.

Organizational Details Tab

(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. Only local governmental agencies are eligible to be fiscal agent.

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

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

(Q4) Agency Function Choose your agency’s function  from the list: 

  • Law Enforcement
  • Prosecution, Court, or Indigent Defense
  • Prevention or Education
  • Corrections or Community
  • Corrections
  • Drug Treatment  Planning, Evaluation, or Technology Improvement
  • Crime Victims or Witness Protection
  • Behavioral Health 
  • Human Services
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Public Health
  • Other
Questions/Statement of Work Tab

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

(Q2) Project End Date: Enter “06/30/2023” 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.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

(Q15) Describe the target area and crime challenge the applicant hopes to address. Provide enough detail for a reader to fully understand what the project is, what it will be doing, and how it will impact the described problem.. 

(Q16) Describe the data regarding the incidence of crime in the target area, disaggregated by the type of crime, and demographic data.

(Q17) Describe the specific projects the grant would fund.

(Q18) Outline measurable or observable goals to decrease the incidence of crime, disaggregated by the type of crime. Goals and Objectives are described in detail on the Tables (Goals & Objectives and Budget Details) Tab.

(Q19) Provide details on how the applicant has collaborated with communities and other agencies in developing the improvements to be funded under the application.

(Q20) Describe the plan to prevent the displacement of homeless populations and harm to communities of color and vulnerable populations.

(Q21) Does your project include any of the following activities? Select all that apply.

  • Better lighting
  • Improved trash collection
  • Access control
  • Territorial reinforcement
  • Improved space management
  • Other improvements designed to decrease the incidence of crime and create safer streets
Tables (Goals & Outcomes and Budget Details) Tab

Goals & Outcomes  This is a table.

Goals and Outcomes: 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), outcomes, measurement, and timeframe.

Goals: Goals are broad statements (i.e., written in general terms) that convey a project's overall intent.  

Objectives: Objectives are how you intend to reach your goal and includes the strategies you will use to get there.  Strategies include both process and output. 

Please write at least one measurable objective(s) for each goal.  Objective statements should include:

  • Type of crime targeted
  • The specific type of change or improvement that will occur
  • Strategy that will lead to the change or improvement
     

Measurement: Include measures that will sufficiently document any change that occurs.

Timeframe: The quarter in which the objective will be completed. Enter quarter 1 or quarter 2.

Personnel: Budget & Budget Narrative Details Table
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

General Budget Instructions: 
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 add correctly.

Budget items should be detailed, reasonable, specifically defined, and justified and the applicant should demonstrate how the costs were determined.  It should be clear so that no concerns of supplanting will exist. The budget must be completed entirely and each item listed should be accompanied by a description, which provides justification for the budget items and details the basis for determining the cost of each item.

  • The budget must cover the entire project duration.
  • In figuring the budget, work with WHOLE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ONLY. When necessary, round to the next highest whole dollar amount.
  • The budget is broken into six budget categories: personnel, supplies and operating, travel, equipment,  consultant/professional services, and indirect costs. 

Column Headers
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).

Position Title and Name:  Add each position by title and name of employee, if available; if two individuals have the same title, list it twice.

Annual Base Salary: Enter the annual, full-time salary or base pay for the position.

Annual Base Salary to be Paid by Grant Funds: Enter the annual 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 annual salary columns. 

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

Annual Fringe to Be Paid by Grant: Enter the annual 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 annual fringe columns.

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

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

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

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

OT - Annual Fringe To Be Paid By Grant Funds: Enter the annual 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 annual salary and fringe columns.

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 Details Table

Be sure to read the following definitions for each budget category before completing it.

Budget Narrative and Justification:

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 by including the per unit cost. Failure to justify and explain/show calculations could result in denial of funding.

Describe the criteria used to compute budget figures. 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.

Supplies and Operating:

Add expendable or non-durable items within this category by major type [e.g., office supplies, laptops, software (regardless of cost),  telephone,  postage, vehicle gas, leases, etc.,] and show the basis for computation: “X” dollars per month for office supplies, 2 laptops at “X” dollars each.

NOTE: 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.

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

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.

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 basis for computation. Indicate if the travel is in-state or out-of-state.

Out-of-state travel must be 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. Allowable State travel rates for mileage are $0.56/mile for 2WD and $0.59/mile for 4WD.

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 on 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.

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): *Application must contain a detailed budget and budget narrative for anything listed under Contracted, Consultant and Professional Services. List each consultant, contractor, or type of service with 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). 

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. 

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 federally negotiated indirect cost rate, and is not required to have a federally 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, costs 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 and contracts/subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subaward or contract/subcontract (regardless of the period of performance).
  • 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 and contract/subcontract in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs.
Documents Tab

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

Questions

Questions about Grant Program & Requirements

Meghan Moore
Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA
Direct: 303-518-6761
Email: Meghan.Moore@state.co.us

Questions about ZoomGrants & Technical Support

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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.  

 

Can you provide some guidance on Goals and Objectives?

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

These are the elements against which you project will be evaluated and which you will use to report quarterly and final progress.

Goals: Goals are logical, sensible, clearly written and directly tied to the project. Write one or more goals you will focus on this project.  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.  

Objectives: Objectives describe the strategies to be implemented to achieve the goal and should be logically related to that goal. Objectives are logical, measurable, sensible, clearly written, realistic and can be accomplished within the grant time-frame.

Measurement: identifies the amount of intended change expressed as a rate, percent or whole number. 

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

PROJECT EVALUATION

Describe the evaluation plan for the stated goals and objectives. Include the following:

1.     Based on your stated objectives, what data will you collect in order to measure your success in meeting those objectives?

2.     What instrument/tool will be utilized to collect data?

3.     How will you confirm whether your project was successful in making progress toward achieving your goal? 

Can you tell me the sorts of projects this grant is intended to support?

Can you tell me if it would support Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, Crime Analyst training, community policing initiatives or other related projects or is this more intended to support infrastructure projects such as lighting, street modifications, and the like?

This grant is intended to support environmental design and infrastructure projects. Crime prevention through environmental design projects would be supported.  Crime analyst training, community policing programs, and related projects might be a hard sell since they will most likely involve hiring additional officers.

The grant will not support hiring law enforcement personnel, facial recognition, or shot spotter programs.

​What are the grant award dates?

We anticipate the award period to be June 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026.

Is there a maximum amount per award? 

 The total funding level is $3,754,944.  At this time, there is no maximum amount set per award.

Is there a match requirement amount? 

DCJ encourages applicants to show a commitment from either local governments or other by partner agencies for this project to support sustainability. A match is not a requirement for this funding.

Is it required that we partner with a community based nonprofit organization or other entity?

SB22-001 allows local governmental agencies to partner with a community-based nonprofit organization to submit a joint application. Although partnerships and collaborations are encouraged, partnerships are not a requirement for this funding.

Would a pole mounted license plate reader or a new hostage negotiation van fall within the scope of this grant?

This grant is intended for environmental design and infrastructure projects.  The grant funding cannot be used for hiring personnel, facial recognition purposes, or surveillance programs that use networks of sensors.  Some examples of improvements to decrease the incidence of crime and create safer streets as listed in the bill include better lighting, improved trash collection, access control, territorial reinforcement, and improved space management.

How do I find my project application if I don’t complete it all at the same time?

When you log into ZoomGrants (ZG), click on My Account Home. Any incomplete applications will appear under the Incomplete tab. If the application deadline has passed the incomplete applications will move the to the Archived tab.

What do I do if I get the message that I exceeded the maximum length for a question? 

If there is a character limit it will appear with each question. As you type, a box indicates how many characters are remaining. There may be a slight discrepancy in character counts upon saving the answer. Carriage Returns count as two (2) characters when SAVED, but count as one (1) characters when TYPING/EDITING. The final characters count may be off by 1 character for each carriage return. You may need to shorten your answer if your initial answer uses the maximum character limit.

How do I submit more than one application for my agency?

A ZG account is linked to an individual within an agency, and not the agency as a whole. If your agency has distinct and separate projects with different project directors each project director should have his/her own account. (Unless the agency decides to have a singular generic account owner that provides project director access to each application on a case by case basis). 

If your agency has multiple ZG accounts, each account may submit one or more applications. If a single ZG account holder would like to submit more than one application, you may accomplish this in one of two ways:

  1. Apply Again – creates a new blank application
    • Login 
    • Click Apply Again to create a new Application.
  2. Duplicate Application – copies an application within the same Grant Program and allows you to edit it. 
    • Under My Account Home find the application you want to duplicate (it will be under either the Incomplete or Submitted tab).
    • Click Duplicate and a copy of the application will open an allow you to edit.
 Do we need to include a breakdown budget for any contractors/vendors?

Yes. A line item budget must be included in the budget narrative under the consultants/contract (professional services) category. Suggested budget format is: list personnel, supplies and operating, travel, equipment, and contracted services or professional services. The budget should include only those items for which you are requesting funding.

Does the system allow for review by our Appointing Authority?

Prior to application submission by the division, all applications must be reviewed and approved by our Authorizing Authority so that s/he has the opportunity to evaluate projects to determine if they are in keeping with our mission and goals and do not violate laws or regulations.  Is that possible in the system?

Yes, you can “Print/Preview” the application prior to submission. This can be found on the top right corner of the individual application. You may save to PDF and/or print it.

Do the character limits in the sections include the spaces between words?

Yes. Be advised, hitting Return also uses two (2) characters.

We have not registered with SAM and do not have an UEI, will this stop us from submitting an application?

Yes. Please contact DCJ if you are currently registering with SAM or if you are reactivating your registration, but have not yet completed the process.

How do I update my SAM end date on my new application?

Using data released by the federal government, ZoomGrants completes a SAM verification (via each applicant’s UEI) and presents the results for each applicant in the Application Summary tab of their applications.

The federal government releases this data every month, and SAM checks are completed once an applicant submits their application and are automatically updated monthly, following the release of the new data.

The SAM verification will only appear in the Application Summary tab on an application if the applicant has entered a valid UEI.

Would there be any consequence to filing the intent to apply and then later deciding not to submit an actual proposal?

The intent to apply was optional.  There is no consequence to filing the intent to apply and deciding against submitting a proposal.

Our agency did not meet the intent to apply deadline, can we still apply for this grant program when the application opens?  

Yes, your agency can most definitely still apply. The intent to apply was optional and not a requirement. 

Is this a re-occurring grant opportunity?

At this time, the grant program is a one-time grant opportunity.

Accessibility and Accommodations

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.