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Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant Countywide Application (JAG-C) FY2024-2025

I. Introduction

Pinellas County Human Services is now accepting applications for federal funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Countywide (JAG-C). JAG-C provides financial assistance to local projects that work to prevent and reduce crime and improve the criminal justice system. JAG-C is a pass-through grant of federal funds allocated to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. This solicitation is administered by Pinellas County Human Services. The Substance and Alcohol Abuse Advisory Board (SAAB) will review all applications and make award recommendations for final approval by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners and the FDLE.
 
Applications must meet criteria set forth in this solicitation and by FDLE which can be found here. The funding period for this application is October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 (FY25). The anticipated FY25 allocation for Pinellas County is $270,837.00.

II. Application Timeline

Application Opens Wednesday June 12, 2024

  • An available Question and Answer period closes on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 4:00 pm. Questions can be sent to Maggie Miles at: mamiles@pinellas.gov. Responses to questions received will be posted and available from this site by June 19, 2024. Human Services Department – Pinellas County
  • Pinellas County was notified that Neighborly system went down between 11am to noon today June 21, 2024. In order to allow time to complete submission of initiated applications, the JAG application has been extended through 3pm, June 21, 2024. The application will close promptly at 3pm.
  • SAAB Review and Recommendation Meeting will be scheduled for the end of June 2024 with current date/time to be determined. Please check back for updates.
  • Board of County Commissioners Recommendation Review and Approval is anticipated on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
  • Award Recommendations due to FDLE Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

The submission deadline for all applications has been extended through 3:00 pm, June 21, 2024. Late applications will not be accepted.

III. Application Criteria

  1. Applicant organizations must be either a local unit of government, a political or law enforcement agency, or a 501c3 not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of Florida for at least one (1) year prior to application.
  2. Organizations must utilize the online application. For questions regarding your application, please contact: Maggie Miles at: mamiles@pinellas.gov.
  3. JAG funds may be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice in any one or more of the following purpose areas:
    • Law enforcement programs
    • Prosecution, courts, and indigent defense programs
    • Prevention and education programs
    • Corrections, community corrections, and reentry program
    • Drug Treatment and Enforcement programs
    • Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs
    • Crime victim and witness programs
    • Mental health programs
  4. Exclusions (not all-inclusive): JAG funds may not be used (whether directly or indirectly) for any purpose prohibited by federal statute or regulation, including those prohibited by the JAG Program statute (34 U.S.C. § 10152).
    • Supplanting: JAG funds may not be used to supplant state or local funds. See BJA’s JAG FAQs for examples of supplanting.
    • Security Enhancements for Non-governmental Entities: JAG funds may not be used for security enhancement or equipment for non-governmental entities not engaged in criminal justice or public safety.
    • Additional Restrictions: JAG funds may not be used to pay for any of the following items unless approved by the BJA Director: (A) vehicles (excluding police cruisers), vessels (excluding police boats), or aircraft (excluding police helicopters); (B) luxury items; (C) real estate; (D) construction projects (other than penal or correctional institutions); or (E) any similar matters.
    • The use of BJA grant funds for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV), and all accompanying accessories to support UAS or UAV, is unallowable. See BJA’s JAG FAQs and JAG Prohibited and Controlled Expenditure Guidance for more information.
    • Note: FDLE will not approve the purchase of trinkets such as hats, mugs, portfolios, t-shirts, coins, gift bags, etc., with grant funds. Additional cost elements FDLE will not approve include, but are not limited to gift cards/certificates, bus/transportation passes, entertainment costs, etc.
    • Grant funds may NOT be used to pay for extended warranties, service agreements, contracts, etc., covering any periods that extend beyond the project end date. Funds may be prorated for services within the project period.
    • Project Adjustments: Retroactive (after-the-fact) approval of project adjustments or items not currently in the approved subaward will only be considered under extenuating circumstances. Subrecipients who incur costs prior to approval of requested adjustments do so at the risk of the items being ineligible for reimbursement under the award.
  5. If awarded grant funding, applicant must submit timely quarterly reports, regular invoices, and may be required to present on program successes and challenges at an annual SAAB meeting, typically held in the fall.
  6. Past Pinellas County JAG award information can be found here.

IV. Scoring Criteria

Please see attached Scoring Matrix here which will be used by reviewers to score application.

Disclaimer: Pinellas County Government reserves the right to: 1) cancel the application process; 2) accept or reject any or all applications received; 3) waive any non-substantive deficiency or irregularity, waive or remedy any technical or immaterial errors; 4) request any necessary clarifications of proposal data without changing the terms of the proposal; 5) negotiate with any qualified applicant and/or modify required contract terms as needed and if required by FDLE ; 6) award a contract in what it believes to be the best interest of the County; 7) cancel the request, in part or its entirety, if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the County; 8) reject the program of any applicant that has previously failed to perform properly; 9) reject the program of any applicant who has failed to complete a contract within the specified timeframe; 10) reject the program of any applicant that is not in a position to fulfill a resulting contractual obligation.

To see a DRAFT Sample Contract Template, click here.