BJA FY 19 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative: Outcomes-based Contracting To Lower Recidivism and Homelessness | BJA 2019 16890

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.

• 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).

Apply for BJA 2019 16890

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