OVC FY 2019 Advancing the Use of Technology to Assist Victims of Crime | OVC 2019 15647

Opportunity Information: Apply for OVC 2019 15647

The OVC FY 2019 Advancing the Use of Technology to Assist Victims of Crime grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number OVC 2019 15647) was offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to push victim services further into modern, technology-enabled delivery. The core idea behind the program is to fund initiatives that make it easier for victims of crime to find, access, and use support services through digital tools, especially in ways that can reach people quickly, privately, and at scale. OVC emphasized both national projects and regional projects, as long as regional efforts are built in a way that could be replicated and expanded across the country.

The program was structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning awardees would likely work closely with OVC during the project period rather than operating with minimal federal involvement. The funding falls under the broader activity areas of Income Security and Social Services as well as Law, Justice, and Legal Services, and it is associated with CFDA number 16.582. While eligibility was listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full solicitation, the framing suggests OVC was open to applicants capable of delivering victim-service technology at meaningful scale, potentially including nonprofits, service providers, technology partners, coalitions, or other qualified entities depending on the specific eligibility language in the full notice.

OVC’s priority was to maximize the use of technology to improve and increase access to crime victim services. The solicitation described several representative project types. One major category was the development of new national mobile app(s) or other technology platforms designed specifically to serve victims of crime. These kinds of efforts could include tools that centralize resources, guide victims through options, provide safety planning features, connect users to service providers, or offer streamlined pathways to information and referrals. Another category focused on regionally targeted apps or platforms meant to address local needs or populations, with the expectation that the model could be reproduced in other regions. A third category focused on strengthening what already exists by expanding or enhancing current services and/or hotlines through digital channels such as online platforms, text-based services, or app-based interfaces. The emphasis here was on using technology to provide practical services, referrals, tools, and accurate information in formats victims are more likely to use in real time.

In terms of scale and funding, OVC anticipated making up to 8 awards, with an award ceiling of $2,250,000 per award. That ceiling suggests OVC expected substantial, production-level projects rather than small pilots, including potentially the design, build, testing, launch, and improvement of technology products, as well as user support, outreach, training for service providers, and evaluation components depending on the project’s scope. The opportunity was posted with a creation date of April 25, 2019, and the application deadline was June 25, 2019.

Overall, this opportunity was aimed at modernizing and extending victim support by meeting victims where they are: on phones, online, and through digital communication channels. It encouraged applicants to either create new technology platforms or significantly improve existing ones, with an explicit focus on real-world service delivery, accessibility, and the ability to scale or replicate successful approaches beyond a single community.

• The Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime in the income security and social services, law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY 2019 Advancing the Use of Technology to Assist Victims of Crime" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.582.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 25, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 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 $2,250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for OVC 2019 15647

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