FY 2022 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force Program | O COPS 2022 171223

Opportunity Information: Apply for O COPS 2022 171223

The FY 2022 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program is a competitive discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The COPS Office is the DOJ component focused on advancing community policing nationwide by providing both grant funding and practical information resources for law enforcement agencies. Over time, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to support community policing efforts, including awards to over 13,000 state, local, and tribal agencies that have funded the hiring or redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. Alongside grants, the COPS Office publishes and shares guidance and tools on topics like violent crime, school safety, officer wellness, and related community policing practices through its website (cops.usdoj.gov).

The AHTF program is authorized under federal law through the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Title I, Part Q; 34 U.S.C. 10381 et seq.). Under this authority, the Attorney General is directed to use appropriated funds to make competitive grants to state law enforcement agencies in states with high per capita rates of primary treatment admissions. The statutory purpose centers on locating or investigating illicit activities tied to heroin and other opioids, specifically the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil, as well as the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids, with an emphasis on statewide collaboration.

In practical terms, the AHTF program is designed to strengthen statewide law enforcement capacity to respond to heroin and opioid abuse by improving investigations and by establishing, expanding, or enhancing multijurisdictional task forces. The program supports a coordinated approach where state-level agencies work across jurisdictional boundaries and collaborate with other partners to target opioid trafficking and related criminal networks. Funding can be used to add or support personnel (including sworn law enforcement, civilian staff, and task force personnel), provide training, and acquire equipment that helps task forces operate more effectively. The program also aims to increase the number of hours devoted to statewide task force operations, broaden the range and number of participating agencies, and improve analytic capabilities so task forces can develop better intelligence and more strategic investigations.

The opportunity outlines a set of anticipated outcomes that reflect both operational improvements and broader public safety benefits. These include stronger collaboration with federal agencies, more frequent and higher-quality analytical reporting, and improved information sharing among participating agencies. It also targets increases in the number and efficiency of investigations, and a higher proportion of investigations that lead to arrests, referrals, prosecutions, and ultimately convictions. In addition, the program emphasizes the use of community policing principles, reflecting the COPS Office mission to build trust and legitimacy while addressing serious crime problems. Other expected results include identifying more drug-endangered children and increasing both the number and scale of drug seizures, which signals a focus on disrupting supply and protecting vulnerable individuals affected by drug activity.

Eligibility is primarily aimed at state governments, specifically state law enforcement agencies in qualifying states (those with high per capita primary treatment admission rates). The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is law, justice, and legal services under CFDA 16.710. For FY 2022, the notice lists an award ceiling of $4,000,000 and anticipates making about 15 awards. The opportunity was posted on April 1, 2022, with an original application closing date of May 25, 2022.

Finally, the COPS Office notes broader departmental priorities that applicants are expected to align with as part of their proposed work. These priorities include promoting civil rights and racial equity, increasing access to justice, supporting crime victims and others impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety against evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This framing signals that, even though the program is enforcement-focused, successful projects are expected to operate in ways that reinforce lawful, equitable policing and community confidence while targeting opioid distribution networks.

• The Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2022 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.710.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 01, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2022. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O COPS 2022 171223

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