Grants to USA State and Local Governments, Tribes, School Districts, and Agencies to Enhance Security in Schools

School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

Agency

Federal

GrantWatch ID#

183989

Funding Source

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) - Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office)

CFDA Number: 16.710

Funding or PIN Number: O-COPS-2025-172379

Geographic Focus

All USA

Important Dates

Conference Date: 05/08/25
Deadline: 06/18/25 4:59 PM ET - Grants.gov deadline; 06/26/25 4:59 PM ET - JustGrants deadline

Grant Description

Grants to USA state and local governments, school systems and districts, Tribes, and public agencies to enhance security in K-12 schools and on school premises. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take several weeks to complete. Funding is intended to support programs and projects that include officer training, local law enforcement coordination, technology acquisition and installation, and other security enhancement measures.

SVPP is a competitive funding opportunity that seeks to improve security at schools and on school grounds through the implementation of evidence-based school safety programs and technology.

The FY25 School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) provides funding directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the recipient’s jurisdiction through evidence-based school safety programs.

Applications should demonstrate a comprehensive approach to school safety and activities must fall within one of the statutory purpose areas (see 34 U.S.C. § 10551(b)(5)–(9)):

Coordination with local law enforcement
Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self
Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures
Acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency
Any other measure that, in the determination of the COPS Office Director, may provide a significant improvement in security

Goal: To improve security at schools and on school grounds through the implementation of evidencebased school safety programs and technology. SVPP awards will contribute to this goal by funding projects which include funding of civilian personnel to serve as coordinators with local law enforcement, training for local law enforcement officers, purchase and installation of certain allowable equipment and technology, and other measures to significantly improve school security.

Objective 1: improved information sharing with local law enforcement
Objective 2: increased interaction and improved communications between law enforcement and school officials
Objective 3: reduced notification times to law enforcement; improved response time to threats and events accurate identification of danger and follow-up
Objective 4: increased knowledge of and use of community policing principles
Objective 5: increased school safety and sustainability planning efforts

Allowable Costs: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2024ProgramDocs/svpp/solicitation.pdf#page=19

Recipient

Eligibility

City or township governments
County governments
Independent school districts
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)
State governments

Additional Eligibility Criteria

States, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies are eligible to apply. Applications should demonstrate a comprehensive approach to school safety.

The following entities are eligible to apply under this program:
- States, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies, including
-- School districts, including public charter schools and school districts with a single school;
-- School boards; and
-- Law enforcement agencies.

The COPS Office welcomes applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award; however, only one entity may be the applicant. Any other entities carrying out the federal award must be identified as proposed subrecipients. The applicant must be the entity that would have primary responsibility for carrying out the awards, including administering the funding, managing the entire project and monitoring compliance.

Ineligible

Note: Individual schools not operating as school districts and independent schools and private schools, including private charter schools, are NOT eligible to apply as primary applicants.

Pre-Proposal Conference

School Violence Prevention Program Informational Webinar

The COPS Office will host an informational webinar on the School Violence Prevention Program on May 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET.

Register for the Webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JGbYsIumQwOtnQJt9jfKlQ

Pre-Application Information

NOFO Release Date: April 24, 2025
Grants.gov Deadline: June 18, 2025, 4:59 PM ET.
Application JustGrants Deadline: June 26, 2025, 4:59 PM, ET.

To submit an application, all applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and be registered in Grants.gov.

Completing an application is a two-step process:
1. Applicants are first required to register via https://www.grants.gov, complete the SF-424 form and if applicable the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Standard Form - LLL (SF-LLL), and submit it through the Grants.gov website.
2. Once the SF-424 and SF-LLL have been submitted via Grants.gov, the applicant will complete the full application including survey questions and provide attachments in JustGrants.

A minimum 25 percent local cash match (matching funds) is required unless a waiver is approved.

How to Apply: https://cops.usdoj.gov/how-to-apply

Grants.gov opportunity page: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/358757

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$73,000,000.00

Number of Grants

200

Estimated Size of Grant

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards: $500,000 per award

Approximately $1 million of the available funding will be reserved for microgrants for school districts, including rural, tribal, and low-resourced schools. Microgrant award requests must be for $100,000 or less, and the 25 percent local match (cost share) requirement may be waived if fiscal need is demonstrated.

Term of Contract

Period of Performance Start Date: 10/1/25
Period of Performance Duration (months): 36

Contact Information

For technical assistance with submitting the Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424 (SF-424), please call the Grants.gov customer service hotline at 800-518-4726, send questions via email to support@Grants.gov or consult the Grants.gov Organization Applicant User Guide (https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm).

For technical support with the Justice Grants System (JustGrants) application, please contact JustGrants Support at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175.

For programmatic assistance with the requirements of this program, please call the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770 or send questions via email to AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov.

RFP & Supporting Documents

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.