OJJDP FY 20 National Gang Center | OJJDP 2020 16991

OJJDP FY 20 National Gang Center (NGC) Grant Opportunity FAQs

1) What is the OJJDP FY 20 National Gang Center (NGC) grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary Department of Justice funding announcement from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to continue and strengthen the work of the National Gang Center (NGC). The opportunity is designed to fund a national-level hub that provides leadership, coordination, and practical resources to help communities prevent and respond to gang violence, with an emphasis on improving youth outcomes and enhancing public safety.

2) What is the main purpose of this funding?

The main purpose is to sustain and operate a centralized national resource (the National Gang Center) that supports jurisdictions across the country by providing tools, guidance, and coordinated assistance to run effective, evidence-informed gang-reduction strategies.

3) Is this grant intended to fund direct local services?

Based on the summary provided, the focus is not on direct local service delivery alone. Instead, the opportunity centers on national leadership and support functions, particularly training and technical assistance (TTA) and coordination to help communities design and implement effective strategies.

4) What role is the National Gang Center expected to play?

The National Gang Center is expected to function as a national hub that provides leadership, coordination, and practical resources. It is positioned to help communities prevent and respond to gang violence by strengthening planning, collaboration, implementation quality, and overall consistency across jurisdictions.

5) What is meant by training and technical assistance (TTA) in this grant?

TTA refers to the National Gang Center providing support to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to plan, build, and implement evidence-informed gang-reduction initiatives. This includes practical guidance that can help jurisdictions assess local gang problems, select and adapt proven approaches, improve interagency collaboration, and strengthen day-to-day implementation.

6) Who is expected to receive TTA from the National Gang Center?

The summary states that the National Gang Center is expected to support state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. In addition, it will support project sites funded under OJJDP's FY 2020 gang-related solicitations.

7) What outcomes is OJJDP emphasizing for this project?

OJJDP emphasizes outcomes such as safer communities, better coordinated local responses to gang activity, and implementation of programs that balance accountability with positive youth development. The summary highlights ensuring youth are held appropriately accountable to victims and the community while also supporting youth in moving toward productive, law-abiding lives.

8) How does this opportunity connect to other OJJDP FY 2020 gang initiatives?

The announcement specifies that the National Gang Center will support project sites funded under OJJDP's FY 2020 gang-related solicitations. This positions the NGC as a backbone support organization for other OJJDP-funded gang initiatives by helping grantees address implementation challenges, share lessons learned, and maintain consistent standards and approaches across sites.

9) What is meant by the NGC serving as a "backbone" support organization?

In the context provided, it means the NGC helps other OJJDP-funded gang projects by providing coordinated support, troubleshooting implementation issues, facilitating the sharing of lessons learned, and promoting alignment and consistent practices across multiple jurisdictions.

10) What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. The summary notes that this generally indicates OJJDP expects substantial involvement in the funded project, such as collaborating on priorities, deliverables, and coordination with other federal efforts.

11) What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The funding opportunity number is OJJDP 2020 16991.

12) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 16.123.

13) What is the funding activity category listed for this opportunity?

The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.

14) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The total maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $850,000.

15) How many awards does OJJDP expect to make under this opportunity?

OJJDP anticipates a single award (expected awards: 1), indicating the program is intended to fund one primary national entity to operate and deliver the National Gang Center functions for the project period described.

16) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The summary indicates that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full solicitation under an additional eligibility section, suggesting that the specific eligible organization types were defined in the complete announcement text rather than in the brief summary.

17) What were the key dates listed in the opportunity summary?

The summary lists a creation date of January 21, 2020, and an original closing date of March 23, 2020.

18) What is the overall strategy behind funding a national-level gang center?

The strategy described is to elevate and standardize gang-prevention and intervention practices across jurisdictions by sustaining a centralized national resource. By providing training, technical guidance, and coordinated support tied to OJJDP's broader FY 2020 gang violence prevention strategy, the NGC is intended to increase the impact of federal investments and help local projects implement more effectively.