FY 2023 National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) Jails | O BJS 2023 171781

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJS 2023 171781

The FY 2023 National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) Jails opportunity is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), U.S. Department of Justice funding announcement to support the continued implementation of the National Inmate Survey in local jail facilities. It is issued as a continuation cooperative agreement, which generally means BJS expects to maintain close involvement in the work, including collaboration on methodology, sampling, operations in facilities, data collection protocols, quality control, and deliverables. The overarching purpose aligns with the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) priorities around advancing civil rights and racial equity, increasing access to justice, supporting victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, protecting the public from evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and the community. In practical terms, the NIS-4 Jails work is part of the federal government s core statistical infrastructure for measuring conditions of confinement and the experiences of people held in jails, using standardized, nationally comparable data.

This opportunity falls under the Information and Statistics activity category (CFDA 16.734), reflecting that the primary output is high quality statistical data rather than direct service programming. The survey is designed to produce national estimates and related analytical products that can inform policymakers, corrections administrators, researchers, advocates, and the public. Because this is the fourth cycle of the NIS, the work typically builds on established sampling designs, tested survey instruments, and proven field procedures, while also incorporating updates needed to address changing jail operations, population characteristics, and emerging issues. The solicitation directs applicants to the Overview section of the original NIS-4 Jails solicitation for the full program description and expectations, indicating that the continuation award is tied to that previously defined scope.

Key administrative details are straightforward. The funding opportunity title is FY 2023 National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) Jails, with opportunity number O BJS 2023 171781. It was posted June 6, 2023, with an original closing date of June 23, 2023. BJS anticipated making one award, with a maximum (ceiling) of 2,000,000. The single award structure is typical for large national statistical collections that require a unified methodology, consistent field management, and centralized data processing to ensure comparability across sites and to protect confidentiality.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional specifics provided in the solicitation s eligibility section. In BJS statistical solicitations, eligible applicants often include entities with strong survey research and field data collection capacity, such as research organizations, universities, nonprofits, or specialized survey firms, especially those with demonstrated experience working in correctional environments and administering sensitive surveys. Because the work occurs in jails and involves human subjects in custody, applicants are generally expected to have robust capabilities in privacy protection, research ethics and human subjects compliance, staff training, secure data handling, and coordination with correctional agencies. Cooperative agreements also commonly require a proven ability to work with federal project officers, meet detailed reporting requirements, and adhere to methodological standards set by BJS.

The legal authority for BJS to issue this solicitation is identified as 34 U.S.C. 10132(c) and 34 U.S.C. 30303. These provisions support BJS in carrying out federal criminal justice statistical functions, including the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on the operation of the justice system and conditions within correctional settings. The statutory citations underscore that the NIS is part of BJS s mandated role to produce official national statistics that are reliable, objective, and useful for public decision making.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a continuation investment in a nationally significant data collection effort focused on jails, conducted under BJS direction with close federal involvement. The main value of the project is producing credible, standardized, and policy relevant statistics that can be used to assess conditions, identify disparities, track trends over time, and support efforts that advance equity, accountability, and public trust in the justice system.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2023 National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) Jails" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.734.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 06, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 23, 2023. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O BJS 2023 171781

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