Program Contact
Robyn May - robyn.may@state.co.us (Send Email)

Financial Contact
Tatevik Hovsepyan - tatevik.hovsepyan@state.co.us (Send Email)

Reporting Contact
Robyn May - robyn.may@state.co.us (Send Email)

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General Requirements

The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals, and we are continually making changes to improve accessibility and usability of our services. As part of this commitment, DCJ is prepared to offer reasonable accommodations for those who have difficulty engaging with our content. As an example, documents can be produced in an alternative file format upon request. To request this and other accommodations, or to discuss your needs further, please contact Gillian Trickett at 720-582-4510 or DCJGMS@state.co.us.



Overview & Funding Details (specific to this program)

• Title:  Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation and Distribution Interdiction Grant Program

  Overview

  The Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation and Distribution Interdiction Grant Program is a funding opportunity offered through the Office of Adult and Juvenile Assistance (OAJJA) for fiscal year 2024 and 2025 in consultation with the Deputy Attorney General, the P.O.S.T. Board Director, and the Opioid Crisis Recovery Funds Advisory Committee which supports the Colorado Department of Law.

  
  

  The intent of the Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation and Distribution Interdiction Grant Program is to provide grant funding to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating deaths and serious injuries caused by illegal synthetic opiate poisoning and for disrupting synthetic opiate supplies. 

  
  

  Resource: HB22-1326 Fentanyl Accountability And Prevention

  
  

  Project Application DEADLINE: August 4, 2023

  Additional Resources

  • Application Instructions (link) https://dcj.colorado.gov/synthetic-opiate-grant-program-application-instructions 
  • FAQs (link) https://dcj.colorado.gov/fentanyl-accountability-and-prevention-grant-program-faqs 
  
  

  Apply Now in ZoomGrants: https://www.zoomgrants.com/gprop.asp?donorid=2225&rfpid=4712

  About the Funding Agency: 

  The mission of the Division of Criminal Justice is to improve the public safety of the community, the quality of services to crime victims, and the effectiveness of services to offenders. We accomplish this by analyzing policy, conducting criminal justice research, managing programs, and administering grants.

  Program Description

  Purpose of the Funds

  To provide grants to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating deaths and serious injuries caused by illegal synthetic opiate poisoning and for disrupting synthetic opiate supplies. 

  Statutory Authority

  C.R.S. 24-33.5-533. Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation And Distribution Interdiction Grant Program

  Eligible Activities

  The grant funding may be used by a law enforcement agency for the following purposes only: 

  • Investigating deaths and serious injuries caused by illegal synthetic opiate poisoning
  • Investigating, enforcing, and prosecuting synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks, including multijurisdictional and multistate investigations and enforcement operations, to reduce the supply of illegal synthetic opiates and precursor chemicals in Colorado
  • Technology, equipment, and training to enhance intelligence, information-sharing capabilities, and interagency collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners regarding synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks
  • Analyzing emergent trends in markets, including the use of the postal service, private courier, commercial cargo, and the internet, for the import and distribution of illegal synthetic opiates through a systematic and standardized approach, including the use of novel, high-frequency, and real-time systems to enhance market surveillance.  

  Examples of Eligible Activities

  Some examples of eligible activities may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Enhanced testing equipment for synthetic opioids, such as TruNarc https://www.thermofisher.com
  • Technology to unlock cell phones, such as  'Graykey’ by Grayshift https://www.grayshift.com/ - Cellebrite https://cellebrite.com 
  • Data analytics tools such as 'NightHawk' https://www.nighthawkleovision.com/ for reviewing cell and social media 
  • Server storage to manage data captured
  • Enhanced testing of synthetic drugs
  • Forensic data analytic tools
  • Server storage
  • Mobile device forensic tools
  • Personnel to get trained and manage overdose detection and surveillance applications
  • Safe Evidence Handling and Storage items, such as vented hoods, faraday bags
  • Training relevant to investigating, disrupting distribution and prosecution of illegal synthetic opiates
  
  

  Required Application Components

  All grant applications must address all of the following:

  • The specific activity the grant would fund
  • Number or rate of drug overdoses related to synthetic opiates within the community intended to be served which is available online (Resource: Counts of drug overdose deaths due to any opioid in Colorado, 2020-2021)
  • Barriers the agency experiences when performing fentanyl or other synthetic opioid death investigations or distribution interdiction within the designated agency
  • How the proposed project will address the identified barriers.  
  • Existing resources available when performing fentanyl or other synthetic opioid death investigations within the designated agency 
  • Details on collaboration efforts among federal, state, or local law enforcement partners regarding synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks
  • If personnel costs are included, how will the project be sustained once funding ends

  Technical Assistance

  General technical assistance regarding the grant application process will be offered to all applicants through pre-recorded webinars, office hours, and other means.

  Technical Assistance for Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Grant Program

  Technical Resources

  Below is a non-exhaustive list of resources:

  • Overdose Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP)
  • ODMAP Trainings
  • Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Training Assistance (HIDTA) 
  • Commission on Combatting Synthetic Opioid Trafficking
  • Colorado 2022 Fentanyl Summit - Lists key subject matter experts on topic; Note:  Resource is only available to law enforcement.
  • Denver Fentanyl Action Summit

Funding Details

Application Deadline

August 4, 2023

Amount available

$801,471 

Award Period

January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024

Match

A match is not a requirement for this funding.

Exclusions and Limitations

Money from the grant award may only be used for the stated eligible activities.

Eligibility

Eligible grant recipients include:

• Colorado law enforcement agencies per 24-32-124(1)(e)
• “Law enforcement agency” means a county sheriff’s office, municipal police force, the Colorado state patrol, or the Colorado bureau of investigation.
• Colorado District Attorney's Office
• Multijurisdictional law enforcement task force that includes a law enforcement agency as defined by section 24-32-124 (1)(e) 
• Police department for a private or state institution of higher education

Evaluation

Funding decisions will be made in consultation with the P.O.S.T. Board Director or Designee, the Deputy Attorney General, and the Opioid Crisis Recovery Funds Advisory Committee.

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:  

• Specific activity requested for grant funding
• Availability of existing programs in your community to address fentanyl or other synthetic opioid investigations and/or distribution interdiction
• The prevalence of deaths related to synthetic opiate poisoning, overdose, or trafficking
• Ability to overcome barriers to performing fentanyl or other synthetic opioid death investigations or distribution interdiction
• Collaboration efforts among partners regarding synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks
• Innovation of the proposal 

Applications that are denied funding may submit an appeal within three (3) days of notification; however, appeals may only contain clarifying information specific to the reasons noted in the denial notification and can not contain new information. 

Additional Information

Grant Agreements

If awarded, grantees will receive additional information regarding administrative requirements.

Sample Grant Agreements (linked)

Post Award Reporting Requirements

The grantee will be required to submit financial and programmatic reports describing how the grant funds were utilized, including data and other relevant information on performance metrics. These reports will be required quarterly and on or before August 1, 2023 and on or before August 1 each year thereafter as funding is available. Performance metrics will be outlined at the time of the award.

Program Schedule

Announcement date: July 5, 2023

Application deadline: August 4, 2023

Funding decision announced: October

Reconsideration/appeals deadline: Approximately 3 days following Denial Notification

Grant Agreement Issuance: December 

Award Period: January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024

How To Apply

The Synthetic Opiate Poisoning Investigation and Distribution Interdiction Grant Program Announcement, Application, and Application Instructions can be obtained through Colorado’s online application system, ZoomGrants.

Project applications must be submitted on or before FRIDAY AUGUST 4, 2023 at 5:00PM MST.  

PROJECT APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE.  

Failure to submit a complete project application may result in denial of funding.

We highly recommend applicants read all of the Application Instructions and review the FAQs. Link to application instructions: https://dcj.colorado.gov/synthetic-opiate-grant-program-application-instructions 

The application instructions can be obtained in the library on ZoomGrants.

Questions

The Division of Criminal Justice is committed to a fair and impartial competitive application process. As such, any grant programmatic application questions and answers will be posted on the FAQs website. Please check back to this website frequently so you are getting the most up-to-date information.

Questions about grant program & requirements

Robyn May

Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA

700 Kipling Street

Denver, CO 80215

Direct: 303-842-3344

E-mail: robyn.may@state.co.us

Questions about ZoomGrants & Technical Support

If you experience problems or have questions about how to use ZoomGrants, please contact dcjgms@state.co.us.

Accessibility and Accommodations

The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradoans. The Division of Criminal Justice is committed to making its physical campus and digital resources accessible to everyone. The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) strives to ensure equal access to the services we provide to everyone with and without disabilities. To best meet reasonable accommodation needs for effective communication or a reasonable modification to programs, services, or activities, please contact us a week prior to the activity or event.

DCJ will make every effort to provide requested reasonable accommodations, however, failure to notify DCJ of requested accommodations at least 3 business days prior to the date of the activity or event date may result in delay or denial of the accommodation.