Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2025 172590
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has released a continuation grant notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) titled "BJA FY 25 Invited to Apply - Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Program" (Funding Opportunity Number: O-BJA-2025-172590). The purpose of this funding is to strengthen access to legal help in tribal communities by supporting legal assistance for eligible tribal members, federally recognized Indian tribes, and tribal justice systems. The program is focused on places where the need is especially high: rural and remote tribal regions across the United States where legal services are limited or difficult to reach.
The central goal of the opportunity is to fund services that expand or sustain civil legal aid and criminal indigent defense in tribal communities. In practice, this means helping ensure that people in eligible tribal areas can obtain legal support for civil matters as well as representation or defense services when they cannot afford counsel in criminal or related proceedings. By backing both civil and criminal legal assistance, the program aims to reduce the gaps that often exist in remote areas, where there may be few attorneys, long travel distances to courts or service providers, and limited local infrastructure for consistent legal support.
This NOFO is explicitly restricted to invited applicants only. Eligibility is not open to the general public or to all tribal or nonprofit organizations. Only entities that received an official invitation letter from BJA are allowed to apply, and the NOFO states that applications will only be accepted from one specified organization: Montana Legal Services Association. In other words, even though the program benefits tribal communities and tribal justice systems, the application pathway for this particular funding announcement is limited to the invited organization named in the notice.
From a funding classification standpoint, the award is a grant and falls under the "Law, Justice and Legal Services" activity category, with CFDA number 16.815. The opportunity is labeled as a continuation, which typically signals that it is intended to continue or extend work under an existing project or established program relationship rather than launch an open, competitive round for new applicants. The maximum award amount listed (award ceiling) is $765,000. The NOFO was created on April 23, 2026, and the application closing date is May 6, 2026.
In summary, this BJA continuation funding opportunity is designed to maintain and enhance the availability of civil legal assistance and indigent defense services for tribal communities in rural and remote areas where legal resources are scarce. However, it is not a broadly competitive solicitation; it is an invited-to-apply NOFO limited to the Montana Legal Services Association, with applications accepted only from that organization and only if it has received the formal invitation from BJA.Apply for O BJA 2025 172590
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 25 Invited to Apply- Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.815.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $765,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is titled "BJA FY 25 Invited to Apply - Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Program."
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The funding opportunity is released by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-BJA-2025-172590.
What is the purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to strengthen access to legal help in tribal communities by supporting legal assistance for eligible tribal members, federally recognized Indian tribes, and tribal justice systems, with a particular emphasis on rural and remote tribal regions where legal services are limited or difficult to access.
What types of legal services does the program support?
The program is focused on expanding or sustaining two main service areas in tribal communities: (1) civil legal aid and (2) criminal indigent defense (legal representation/defense for people who cannot afford counsel in criminal or related proceedings).
Who is this program intended to benefit?
Based on the NOFO description, the intended beneficiaries include eligible tribal members, federally recognized Indian tribes, and tribal justice systems, especially in rural and remote tribal areas across the United States.
Why does the NOFO emphasize rural and remote tribal regions?
The NOFO highlights rural and remote tribal regions because these areas often face higher need and access barriers, such as limited availability of attorneys, long travel distances to courts or service providers, and limited local infrastructure for consistent legal support.
Is this NOFO open to the public or to all eligible organizations?
No. This NOFO is explicitly restricted to invited applicants only and is not an open, competitive opportunity for the general public or for all tribal or nonprofit organizations.
Who is eligible to apply under this NOFO?
Only entities that received an official invitation letter from BJA are allowed to apply.
Which organization is named as the applicant for this NOFO?
The NOFO states that applications will only be accepted from one specified organization: Montana Legal Services Association.
Can a different tribal organization, nonprofit, or legal aid provider apply instead?
No. According to the NOFO, applications will only be accepted from Montana Legal Services Association, and only as an invited applicant.
What does it mean that this is a "continuation" funding opportunity?
The NOFO is labeled as a continuation, which typically indicates the funding is intended to continue or extend work under an existing project or established program relationship, rather than start a new open competition for new applicants.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount listed (award ceiling) is $765,000.
What type of award is this?
The award type is a grant.
What is the activity category for this funding?
The activity category is "Law, Justice and Legal Services."
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 16.815.
When was the NOFO created?
The NOFO was created on April 23, 2026.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is May 6, 2026.
Does this funding focus on civil matters only, or criminal matters too?
It supports both: civil legal assistance (civil legal aid) and criminal indigent defense services.
Does the NOFO describe what problem this funding is trying to address?
Yes. The NOFO description points to gaps in access to legal support in remote tribal areas, where legal services can be hard to reach due to limited attorneys, distance, and infrastructure challenges.
If our community could benefit from these services, can we apply directly?
No. This NOFO does not provide an open application pathway. It is limited to an invited applicant and specifies that only Montana Legal Services Association will be accepted as the applicant for this announcement.
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| INL – Increasing Police Recruitment to Counter FTOs and TCOs in Colombia Apply for OFOP0002742 Funding Number: OFOP0002742 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| BJA FY25 Invited to Apply – Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Reallocation Funds Program Apply for O BJA 2025 172613 Funding Number: O BJA 2025 172613 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $420,866 |
| Bolivia Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Sector Support Apply for DFOP0018363 Funding Number: DFOP0018363 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Combatting Transnational Organized Crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Enhanced Forensic Accounting Apply for OFOP0002766 Funding Number: OFOP0002766 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Undercover Backstopping Project Apply for OFOP0002752 Funding Number: OFOP0002752 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
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