Overview
The Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation and Distribution Interdiction Grant Program is a funding opportunity offered through the Office of Adult and Juvenile Assistance (OAJJA) for fiscal year 2024 and 2025 in consultation with the Deputy Attorney General, the P.O.S.T. Board Director, and the Opioid Crisis Recovery Funds Advisory Committee which supports the Colorado Department of Law.
The intent of the Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation and Distribution Interdiction Grant Program is to provide grant funding to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating deaths and serious injuries caused by illegal synthetic opiate poisoning and for disrupting synthetic opiate supplies.
Additional Resources
- Application Instructions
- FAQs
- Technical Assistance Webpage (Includes recordings of DCJ-hosted webinars)
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 provide grants to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating deaths and serious injuries caused by illegal synthetic opiate poisoning and for disrupting synthetic opiate supplies.
Statutory Authority
C.R.S. 24-33.5-533. Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation And Distribution Interdiction Grant Program
Eligible Activities
The grant funding may be used by a law enforcement agency for the following purposes only:
- Investigating deaths and serious injuries caused by illegal synthetic opiate poisoning
- Investigating, enforcing, and prosecuting synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks, including multijurisdictional and multistate investigations and enforcement operations, to reduce the supply of illegal synthetic opiates and precursor chemicals in Colorado
- Technology, equipment, and training to enhance intelligence, information-sharing capabilities, and interagency collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners regarding synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks
- Analyzing emergent trends in markets, including the use of the postal service, private courier, commercial cargo, and the internet, for the import and distribution of illegal synthetic opiates through a systematic and standardized approach, including the use of novel, high-frequency, and real-time systems to enhance market surveillance.
Examples of Eligible Activities
Some examples of eligible activities may include but are not limited to the following:
- Enhanced testing equipment for synthetic opioids, such as TruNarc
- Technology to unlock cell phones, such as 'Graykey' by Grayshift
- Data analytics tools such as NightHawk for reviewing cell and social media
- Server storage to manage data captured
- Enhanced testing of synthetic drugs
- Forensic data analytic tools
- Mobile device forensic tools
- Personnel to get trained and manage overdose detection and surveillance applications
- Safe Evidence Handling and Storage items, such as vented hoods, faraday bags
- Training relevant to investigating, disrupting distribution and prosecution of illegal synthetic opiates
Please note this is not an exhaustive list.
Required Application Components
All grant applications must address all of the following:
- The specific activity the grant would fund
- Number or rate of drug overdoses related to synthetic opiates within the community intended to be served. This information is available online at Counts of drug overdose deaths due to any opioid in Colorado, 2020-2021
- Barriers the agency experiences when performing fentanyl or other synthetic opioid death investigations or distribution interdiction within the designated agency
- How the proposed project will address the identified barriers.
- Existing resources available when performing fentanyl or other synthetic opioid death investigations within the designated agency
- Details on collaboration efforts among federal, state, or local law enforcement partners regarding synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks
- If personnel costs are included, how the project will be sustained once funding ends
Technical Assistance
General technical assistance regarding the grant application process will be offered to all applicants through webinars, office hours, and other means.
Visit Technical Assistance for Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Grant Program for more information
Technical Resources
Below is a non-exhaustive list of resources:
- Overdose Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP)
- Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Training Assistance (HIDTA)
- Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking
- Colorado 2022 Fentanyl Summit - Lists key subject matter experts on the topic. Only available to law enforcement.
- Denver Fentanyl Action Summit
Funding Details
Application Deadline
Currently closed.
Amount Available
$801,471
Award Period
January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024
Match
A match is not a requirement for this funding.
Exclusions and Limitations
Money from the grant award may only be used for the stated eligible activities.
Eligibility
Eligible grant recipients include:
- Colorado law enforcement agencies per 24-32-124(1)(e)
- “Law enforcement agency” means a county sheriff’s office, municipal police force, the Colorado state patrol, or the Colorado bureau of investigation.
- Colorado District Attorney's Office
- Multijurisdictional law enforcement task force that includes a law enforcement agency as defined by section 24-32-124 (1)(e)
- Police department for a private or state institution of higher education
Evaluation
Funding decisions will be made in consultation with the P.O.S.T. Board Director or Designee, the Deputy Attorney General, and the Opioid Crisis Recovery Funds Advisory Committee.
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Specific activity requested for grant funding
- Availability of existing programs in your community to address fentanyl or other synthetic opioid investigations and/or distribution interdiction
- The prevalence of deaths related to synthetic opiate poisoning, overdose, or trafficking
- Ability to overcome barriers to performing fentanyl or other synthetic opioid death investigations or distribution interdiction
- Collaboration efforts among partners regarding synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks
- Innovation of the proposal
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 can not contain new information.
Additional Information
Grant Agreements
If awarded, grantees will receive additional information regarding administrative requirements.
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 and on or before August 1, 2023 and on or before August 1 each year thereafter as funding is available. Performance metrics will be outlined at the time of the award.
Program Schedule
Announcement date: July 5, 2023
Application deadline: August 18, 2023 (EXTENDED)
Funding decision announced: October 2023
Reconsideration/appeals deadline: Approximately 3 days following Denial Notification
Grant Agreement Issuance: December 2023
Award Period: January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024
How To Apply
The Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation and Distribution Interdiction Grant Program Announcement, Application, and Application Instructions can be obtained through Colorado’s online application system, ZoomGrants.
The application period is now closed.
Questions
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 on the FAQs website. Please check back to this website frequently so you are getting the most up-to-date information.
Questions about grant program & requirements
Robyn May
Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA
700 Kipling Street
Denver, CO 80215
Direct: 303-842-3344
E-mail: robyn.may@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.
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.