FY 2023 Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program, 2023-2026 | O BJS 2023 171654

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJS 2023 171654

The FY 2023 Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program, covering calendar years 2023 through 2026, is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), administered through the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means BJS anticipates an active role in guiding or collaborating on the work rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The overall purpose is statistical and public-facing: to produce reliable national estimates on how many firearm purchase applications are submitted and how many are denied under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 (the Brady Act) and relevant state laws.

At its core, the FIST program is designed to measure the volume and outcomes of background check and firearm transfer screening activity in the United States. It does this by collecting counts from state and local agencies that process firearm transfer applications and permit checks, then integrating those figures with transaction data from the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). By combining state/local data with NICS activity, the program supports more complete national estimation than any single source could provide on its own, especially because background check processes vary across states and may involve different agencies, permitting systems, or points of contact.

BJS frames the solicitation within broader OJP priorities that emphasize civil rights and racial equity, access to justice, support for crime victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, protecting the public from evolving threats, and improving trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. While the direct deliverable of this specific program is statistical reporting rather than enforcement or program services, those broader priorities signal an expectation that the work be conducted with attention to fairness, transparency, and responsible stewardship of data that can influence public understanding and policy discussions.

The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number O BJS 2023 171654) is categorized under “Information and Statistics” and is associated with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 16.734. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. This wide eligibility suggests BJS is open to partnerships or lead applicants with strong statistical, survey, administrative data, and justice-system measurement capacity, including organizations experienced in coordinating multi-jurisdiction data collection.

The solicitation was created on April 4, 2023, with an original closing date of June 5, 2023. BJS anticipated making one award, with an award ceiling of $1,600,000. In practical terms, that indicates a single primary administrator is expected to manage the national effort for the reference years 2023-2026, coordinating data acquisition from multiple sources, maintaining consistent definitions and methodology across years, and producing national estimates that can be compared over time.

In summary, this grant supports the administration of a national statistical program that tracks firearm purchase and permitting background check activity and denials under federal and state law. The work centers on collecting and harmonizing state and local counts and combining them with FBI NICS transaction data to generate national estimates, producing an evidence base that can inform policymakers, researchers, and the public about the scope and outcomes of firearm transfer screening in the United States during 2023-2026.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2023 Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program, 2023-2026" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.734.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 04, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 05, 2023. (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 $1,600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for O BJS 2023 171654

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