OJJDP FY24 AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program – Invited to Apply | O OJJDP 2024 172199

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the OJJDP FY24 AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (Invited to Apply)?

It is a continuation funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to provide training and technical assistance that strengthens the nationwide AMBER Alert system and improves responses to cases involving missing, endangered, and abducted children.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is practical and operational: to improve how jurisdictions prevent, respond to, and resolve time-sensitive cases involving missing, endangered, and abducted children by building capacity, improving coordination, and increasing the likelihood of safe recoveries.

What types of activities does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes training and technical assistance to improve law enforcement and partner agency readiness and performance, including faster and more effective case response, stronger investigative practices, improved interagency communication, and effective public alerting and community engagement that can generate leads when time matters.

How does this opportunity aim to strengthen the national AMBER Alert network?

It focuses on enhancing the tools, procedures, and interagency relationships that enable alerts and investigative information to move quickly and accurately across jurisdictions, supporting efficient information sharing and coordinated operational response.

What does "improving law enforcement response" mean in the context of this opportunity?

It generally refers to refining protocols for case intake and risk assessment, strengthening investigative practices in time-sensitive child abduction cases, and improving how agencies communicate with each other and with the public during active incidents.

Why does the opportunity mention increasing public participation?

Because well-managed public alerts and community engagement can generate critical tips, sightings, and other information that supports investigations and can improve the chances that children are recovered safely.

Is there a specific focus on Indian country and tribal communities?

Yes. The solicitation highlights continued and expanded support for AMBER Alert efforts in Indian country, tied to implementation of the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018.

What does the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018 mean for this program?

It signals that OJJDP expects the program to help translate the requirements and intent of the 2018 Act into workable policies, relationships, and response capabilities suited to tribal, rural, and multi-jurisdiction contexts.

What kinds of barriers in Indian country does the opportunity reference?

It points to known barriers such as cross-jurisdictional complexity, communications infrastructure gaps, and inconsistent access to alerting systems, and indicates the training and technical assistance should help address these challenges.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency during the project period, such as collaborating on priorities, monitoring progress, and working with the recipient on deliverables.

Which federal office is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

What is the program category and CFDA number listed?

It is categorized under Law, Justice, and Legal Services and uses CFDA number 16.543.

What is the award ceiling and how many awards are expected?

The posted award ceiling is $2,000,000, and the opportunity indicates one expected award.

Is this an open competition?

No. It is labeled "Invited to Apply" and lists Fox Valley Technical College, indicating it is designed for a specific recipient as a continuation award rather than an open competition.

Who is the listed invited applicant/recipient?

Fox Valley Technical College is listed, indicating the solicitation is intended for that organization as a continuation award.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is O-OJJDP-2024-172199.

What are the posted dates for this opportunity?

The opportunity was created on July 15, 2024, and the original closing date is July 23, 2024.

What is the overall outcome this program is trying to achieve?

The overall intent is to improve the speed, coordination, and effectiveness of responses to missing, endangered, and abducted child cases nationwide, helping jurisdictions work together and increasing the chances of safe child recovery.