Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2018 13540
The BJA FY 18 Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Grants, Training and Technical Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2018 13540) is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, designed to strengthen access to justice in Indian Country by expanding both direct legal services and the capacity of tribal justice systems. The program, commonly referred to as the Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance (TCCLA) Program, focuses on providing civil and criminal legal assistance to low-income individuals as well as support to Indian tribes and tribal courts or related tribal justice entities. A key part of the purpose is not only delivering representation or legal help in individual matters, but also improving how tribal justice systems operate and how community members can effectively access those systems.
A central feature of this solicitation is its emphasis on training and technical assistance (TTA). Beyond supporting legal aid, the program funds efforts to deliver high-quality training, resources, and hands-on technical support to TCCLA grantees and to Indian tribes more broadly. This includes assistance aimed at developing and enhancing tribal justice systems, which can cover practical improvements such as strengthening court processes, building legal infrastructure, supporting coordination across justice partners, and improving overall service delivery for tribal communities. In other words, the grant is structured to combine direct impact (legal assistance) with longer-term system improvements (capacity building through training and technical support).
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, meaning the awardee should expect substantial involvement from the federal agency during the project period, often including collaboration on goals, deliverables, and performance expectations. The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $600,000, and BJA anticipated making approximately three awards under this solicitation. The program is associated with CFDA number 16.815, which aligns it with federal justice assistance funding streams.
Eligible applicants are relatively broad for a tribal justice-focused program and include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and independent school districts. This eligibility structure reflects the reality that effective legal assistance and TTA efforts may be administered not only by tribal governments themselves, but also by partner institutions that can provide specialized expertise, research capacity, training capabilities, or service-delivery infrastructure in support of tribal justice priorities.
Key administrative details in the source data indicate the opportunity was created on May 31, 2018, with an original application closing date of July 2, 2018. The activity categories tied to the solicitation span law, justice, and legal services, as well as related areas such as community development, education, employment and training, information and statistics, and humanities/cultural affairs, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of legal assistance work in tribal communities and the broader systems-building goals of the program.Apply for BJA 2018 13540
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the community development, education, employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), information and statistics, law, justice and legal services, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 18 Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Grants, Training and Technical Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.815.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 02, 2018. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: BJA FY 18 Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Grants, Training and Technical Assistance (TCCLA)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the BJA FY 18 Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Grants, Training and Technical Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2018 13540). It is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), focused on strengthening access to justice in Indian Country by expanding direct legal services and building the capacity of tribal justice systems.
What is the program commonly called?
The solicitation describes the program as the Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance (TCCLA) Program.
What is the main purpose of the TCCLA Program?
The purpose is to strengthen access to justice in Indian Country. The program is designed to support both (1) civil and criminal legal assistance (especially for low-income individuals) and (2) improvements to how tribal justice systems operate, including helping community members access those systems more effectively.
What types of legal services does the program emphasize?
The program focuses on providing both civil and criminal legal assistance. The information provided highlights legal help for low-income individuals, alongside support for Indian tribes and tribal courts or related tribal justice entities.
Is the funding only for direct representation in individual cases?
No. A key theme in the solicitation is that the program is not limited to representation or legal help in individual matters. It also supports broader system improvements so tribal justice systems function better and are more accessible over time.
What does "training and technical assistance (TTA)" mean in this solicitation?
Training and technical assistance (TTA) refers to providing high-quality training, resources, and hands-on technical support. In this opportunity, TTA is intended to support TCCLA grantees and Indian tribes more broadly, including efforts that develop and enhance tribal justice systems.
Who is supposed to receive the training and technical assistance funded by this grant?
Based on the description, TTA efforts are intended to benefit TCCLA grantees and Indian tribes more broadly.
What kinds of tribal justice system improvements are mentioned as examples?
The opportunity description notes that TTA can include practical improvements such as strengthening court processes, building legal infrastructure, supporting coordination across justice partners, and improving overall service delivery for tribal communities.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement indicates substantial involvement from the federal agency during the project period. The description notes that the awardee should expect agency collaboration related to goals, deliverables, and performance expectations.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $600,000.
How many awards did BJA expect to make?
BJA anticipated making approximately three awards under this solicitation.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA number 16.815.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and independent school districts.
Why are colleges, universities, and independent school districts included as eligible applicants?
The solicitation notes that legal assistance and TTA efforts may be administered not only by tribal governments but also by partner institutions that can provide specialized expertise, research capacity, training capabilities, or service-delivery infrastructure in support of tribal justice priorities.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BJA 2018 13540.
When was the opportunity created?
Key administrative details indicate the opportunity was created on May 31, 2018.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date listed is July 2, 2018.
What activity categories does this solicitation connect to?
The activity categories tied to the solicitation include law, justice, and legal services, and also related areas such as community development, education, employment and training, information and statistics, and humanities/cultural affairs. The description frames this as reflecting the cross-cutting nature of legal assistance work in tribal communities and the broader systems-building goals of the program.
Does the program support both community-level impact and long-term systems change?
Yes. The description emphasizes that the grant is structured to combine direct impact (civil and criminal legal assistance) with longer-term system improvements (capacity building through training and technical support).
Does the opportunity specifically focus on Indian Country?
Yes. The program is explicitly described as being designed to strengthen access to justice in Indian Country.
What tribal entities are mentioned as being supported by the program?
The solicitation mentions support for Indian tribes and tribal courts or related tribal justice entities.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development, Education, Employment, Labor and Training, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Information and Statistics, Law, Justice and Legal Services, Other (see text field entitled
Next opportunity: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North and West Alaska CESU
Previous opportunity: Traditional Trades Apprenticeship Program
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for BJA 2018 13540
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "BJA 2018 13540", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.