Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2019 16890
The BJA FY 19 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative: Outcomes-based Contracting To Lower Recidivism and Homelessness (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2019 16890) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. It is designed to help public agencies use outcomes-based contracting, often referred to as pay for success, to improve results for people leaving incarceration and for people who are experiencing homelessness while living in permanent supportive housing. The central idea is to fund and manage service contracts in a way that ties payment to measurable outcomes, strengthens oversight of service providers, and rewards real improvements over time rather than simply paying for activities delivered.
The opportunity focuses on giving state, local, and tribal governments the practical support and funding needed to build, price, negotiate, and administer these performance-driven contracts. Instead of operating like a traditional grant where funds are mainly tied to inputs and program delivery, the pay for success model emphasizes accountability and performance management. In practice, that means applicants are expected to put in place contracts and management approaches that clearly define target outcomes, specify how those outcomes will be measured, and create incentives for providers to meet or exceed agreed-upon benchmarks. The overarching policy goal is to reduce recidivism and reduce homelessness by making sure investments are aligned with verified, real-world results.
Grant funds can be used to purchase contracted services that fit the program purpose. Eligible service categories include reentry services for individuals returning to the community after incarceration who are assessed as moderate to high risk for recidivism, meaning the program is aimed at populations where effective interventions can produce substantial public safety benefits. Funds may also support services delivered to individuals living in permanent supportive housing units, reflecting an explicit link between housing stability and reduced justice system involvement. The emphasis on tailoring services signals that BJA expects interventions to be matched to the needs and risk levels of participants, rather than providing a one-size-fits-all approach.
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. This eligibility structure makes it clear that the program is intended for public entities that can both contract for services and manage performance-based agreements, often in partnership with community-based providers and other local systems such as corrections, probation, housing authorities, and behavioral health agencies. While the funding is awarded to governments, the program contemplates that much of the direct service delivery will occur through contracted providers under an outcomes-based framework.
From an administrative standpoint, the program falls under CFDA 16.812 and is categorized within community development and housing related activity areas, reflecting its dual public safety and housing stability objectives. The funding opportunity was created on August 13, 2019, with an original application closing date of October 15, 2019. Awards were structured with a ceiling of $2,200,000 per award, and BJA expected to make about four awards under this solicitation. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted investment in the infrastructure and contracting mechanisms needed to implement pay-for-results approaches for reentry and supportive housing services, with the intended payoff being fewer returns to incarceration and improved housing outcomes for highly impacted populations.Apply for BJA 2019 16890
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the community development, housing, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 19 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative: Outcomes-based Contracting To Lower Recidivism and Homelessness" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.812.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 13, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 15, 2019. (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 $2,200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BJA FY 19 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2019 16890)?
This is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It supports public agencies in using outcomes-based contracting (often called pay for success) to improve results for (1) people leaving incarceration and (2) people experiencing homelessness while living in permanent supportive housing.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The overarching policy goal is to reduce recidivism and reduce homelessness by aligning funding and service delivery with verified, measurable real-world outcomes. Rather than paying primarily for activities delivered, the model ties payments to performance and results over time.
What does "outcomes-based contracting" (pay for success) mean in this program?
In this opportunity, outcomes-based contracting means structuring and managing service contracts so that payment is tied to measurable outcomes. It emphasizes clearer outcome definitions, specified measurement methods, stronger provider oversight, and financial incentives for meeting or exceeding agreed-upon benchmarks.
How is this different from a traditional grant approach?
Traditional grants are commonly tied to inputs and program delivery (for example, funding activities or services provided). This program emphasizes accountability and performance management by requiring contracts that define target outcomes, explain how outcomes will be measured, and create incentives linked to performance.
Who is the grant intended to help government agencies serve?
The program is intended to improve outcomes for two key groups: people returning to the community after incarceration and people who are experiencing homelessness while living in permanent supportive housing. The program highlights the connection between housing stability and reduced justice system involvement.
What types of services can grant funds be used to support?
Grant funds can be used to purchase contracted services that fit the program purpose. Eligible service categories include reentry services for people leaving incarceration who are assessed as moderate to high risk for recidivism, and services delivered to individuals living in permanent supportive housing units.
Does this program focus on any particular risk group among people leaving incarceration?
Yes. The opportunity specifically calls out reentry services for individuals assessed as moderate to high risk for recidivism, indicating a focus on populations where effective interventions can produce meaningful public safety benefits.
Does the solicitation require services to be tailored to participants?
The opportunity emphasizes tailoring services to the needs and risk levels of participants, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Who can apply for this funding?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Can nonprofits apply directly for this funding?
The eligibility list provided identifies government entities as eligible applicants. The opportunity also indicates that while governments receive the awards, much of the direct service delivery is expected to occur through contracted providers under an outcomes-based framework.
What role do service providers play if a government entity is the applicant?
Service providers are contemplated as contracted partners delivering services under performance-driven, outcomes-based agreements. The public agency is expected to build, price, negotiate, and administer the contract and manage performance and oversight.
What kinds of partnerships does the program anticipate?
The description indicates that implementation often involves coordination with community-based providers and other local systems such as corrections, probation, housing authorities, and behavioral health agencies, since the work spans reentry and supportive housing.
What does the grant fund beyond direct services?
The opportunity is designed to provide practical support and funding needed for governments to build the infrastructure for outcomes-based contracting: developing and pricing contracts, negotiating performance terms, setting outcome definitions, specifying measurement approaches, and administering and overseeing these contracts.
What are the expected contracting and management components applicants should have?
Applicants are expected to use contracts and management approaches that clearly define target outcomes, specify how those outcomes will be measured, and include incentives for providers to meet or exceed benchmarks. The goal is stronger oversight and rewards for demonstrated improvement over time.
What agency runs this grant program?
The grant is run by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The program is listed under CFDA 16.812.
How is this opportunity categorized in terms of activity area?
It is categorized within community development and housing related activity areas, reflecting its combined focus on public safety outcomes (recidivism reduction) and housing stability.
When was this funding opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on August 13, 2019, and the original application closing date was October 15, 2019.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) per award?
The award ceiling was $2,200,000 per award.
How many awards did BJA expect to make?
BJA expected to make about four awards under this solicitation.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The stated intended payoff is fewer returns to incarceration and improved housing outcomes for highly impacted populations, achieved through investments aligned with measurable results and improved contract performance management.
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