Official title: BJA FY 2026 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA
Most labs can’t apply for this one on their own. The applicant is usually another agency or institution (see Who can apply below), and your lab joins their application as a partner. Talk to them early. The steps after this one are theirs.
Every applicant needs an active registration before submitting. The notice asks you to start by September 28, 2026 and no later than October 1, 2026. That date has passed, so if the registration is missing or lapsed, start today.
Step 1, the , is due October 29, 2026, 11:59 PM ET. It tells BJA an application is coming, and without it the next step is locked.
Step 2 is due November 5, 2026, 8:59 PM ET. This is the narrative, budget and attachments the notice lists.
Bureau of Justice Assistance scores the applications and funds the strongest. Not every good application wins. Funded projects get 36 months to spend the money (the ), starting January 1, 2027.
Money to investigate and prosecute violent cold cases where a suspect's DNA profile already exists, including forensic analysis. A prosecutor's office applies, or a police agency with a prosecutor fully engaged, so a lab would take part through their application.
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program. This opportunity supports prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of violent cold case crimes where a DNA profile from a suspect is already developed. This initiative aims to enhance public safety, hold violent offenders accountable, and further case resolution for victims and their families. Law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies may utilize this funding for investigative and prosecutorial activities, as well as crime and forensic analysis that could increase the rate of successful prosecutions and/or other appropriate resolution of cases.
For the purposes of this NOFO, eligible applicants are state and local prosecuting agencies or law enforcement agencies with an engaged prosecutorial entity. For the purposes of this NOFO, “other units of local government” include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general purpose political subdivisions of a state.
For a forensic agency, this means
State and local prosecuting agencies, law enforcement agencies, and local governments with an engaged prosecutorial partner are eligible to apply for funding to investigate and prosecute violent cold cases where a DNA suspect profile already exists. The grant supports investigative, prosecutorial, and forensic analysis activities. A prosecuting entity must be the lead applicant or provide a Memorandum of Understanding demonstrating full engagement in the project.
Median of 15 past awards under this program, from USAspending.gov: $500K. Most recipients land well under any published ceiling.
