Fiscal Year 2026 Accreditation Enhancement Grant Program

I. Introduction 

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is offering a new cycle of grant to establish, enhance, and continue PowerDMS law enforcement agency accreditation platform for VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agency, or VLEPSC Law Enforcement Self-Assessment Agency. 

A “VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agency” is a law enforcement agency that is accredited with the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) accreditation program. 

A “VLEPSC Law Enforcement Self-Assessment Agency” is a law enforcement agency that is in the self-assessment phase of the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) accreditation program. 

These guidelines contain the rules and requirements governing the Accreditation Enhancement Grants Program and Fund and instructions and applying for grant funds. One application may be submitted for a VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agency or a VLEPSC Law Enforcement Self-Assessment Agency. 

II. Eligibility 

These instructions are applicable to new applicants to provide guidance on the preparation and submission of grant application. 

This funding is available for the PowerDMS law enforcement VLEPSC law enforcement agency accreditation management platform annual (12-months) maintenance fee for PowerDMS new VLEPSC law enforcement accreditation management platform users, and PowerDMS current VLEPSC law enforcement agency accreditation management platform users. Additional grant cycle must be applied for annually. These applications must be submitted on an annual basis and will be awarded based on availability of funding, with priority given to new PowerDMS VLEPSC law enforcement agency accreditation management platform users. Current PowerDMS VLEPSC law enforcement agency accreditation management platform users must demonstrate how these grant funds would not supplant or replace state or local funds that are allocated by a local unit of government to fund the PowerDMS VLEPSC PowerDMS law enforcement agency accreditation management platform. 

VLEPSC law enforcement accredited agencies, or VLEPSC law enforcement self-assessment agencies to assist with becoming VLEPSC accredited and to maintain accreditation must demonstrate how these grant funds would not supplant or replace state or local funds that are allocated by a local unit of government to fund the law enforcement agency accreditation program. 

Units of local government are eligible to apply for and receive these funds. Grants awarded for VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agency or VLEPSC Self-Assessment Law Enforcement Agency and shall be managed by the law enforcement agency; however, the grant application must be submitted by, and the funds awarded to, a local unit of government. DCJS Fiscal Year 2025 Accreditation Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines and Application Procedures for VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agencies 

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III. Grant Application Deadline 

Applications must be submitted in the DCJS Online Grants Management System (OGMS) no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 1, 2025. The system will not allow you to apply after the deadline and, therefore it will not be considered. Allow time for any possible technical difficulties you may experience since the application will not be accepted after the deadline. 

IV. Amount Available 

The total amount requested in an application may not exceed $5,500.00 per grant application for VLEPSC PowerDMS Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Platform annual (12-month) maintenance fee and/or VLEPSC law enforcement accredited agencies, or VLEPSC law enforcement accredited agencies and VLEPSC self-assessment agencies to assist with becoming VLEPSC accredited and to maintain accreditation. 

Grant awards are contingent on the availability of funding received from FY24 DOJ COPS Accreditation Enhance grant funding. DCJS reserves the right to change program budgets based on allowable costs, justification of items, and available funding. New VLEPSC PowerDMS Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Platform users will be prioritized over current VLEPSC PowerDMS Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Platform users and VLEPSC law enforcement accredited agencies and VLEPSC self-assessment agencies to assist with becoming VLEPSC accredited and to maintain accreditation. 

V. Priorities for Applications 

Priority One will be given to localities that meet the following criteria: 

• Localities not using PowerDMS to manage their VLEPSC accreditation program and applying for assistance with obtaining the PowerDMS.
• Web-based Accreditation Platform 

Priority Two will be given to localities that meet the following criteria: 

• Small and rural law enforcement agency 

VI. Grant Period 

Grants will be awarded for FY25 grant cycle beginning September 1, 2025, and ending on July 31, 2026. Final Reimbursements Request and Final Financial Report must be submitted by August 30, 2026. Late Final Reimbursement Request and Final Financial Report won’t be accepted or reimbursed. The award of a grant does not guarantee funding awards in subsequent years; therefore, funding must be applied for annually. Grants for the first year will be reviewed on a competitive basis. Applications must be submitted on an annual basis and will be awarded based on the availability of funding, with priority given to localities not using PowerDMS to manage their VLEPSC accreditation program or VLEPSC law enforcement accredited agencies and VLEPSC self-assessment agencies to assist with becoming VLEPSC accredited and to maintain accreditation. 

VII. Match Requirement 

A local match is not required for grant application but if PowerDMS accreditation management platform for the VLEPSC accreditation program annual maintenance fee (12-DCJS Fiscal Year 2025 Accreditation Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines and Application Procedures for VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agencies 

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months) or VLEPSC law enforcement self-assessment agencies to assist with becoming VLEPSC accredited and to maintain accreditation exceeds the grant award. The grant will not reimburse any amount above the awarded amount. 

VIII. Restrictions 

• These grant funds are to assist VLEPSC Law Enforcement agencies in self-assessment phase with PowerDMS Law Enforcement agency accreditation management platform Law Enforcement agency accreditation management platform annual (12-months) maintenance fees.
• These grant funds are to assist VLEPSC accredited Law Enforcement agencies with PowerDMS annual (12-months) maintenance fees.
• Under this funding opportunity, funds may be requested existing agency PowerDMS Law Enforcement agency accreditation management platform but only will be considered if funding is available.
• Under this funding opportunity, funds may be requested by VLEPSC law enforcement accredited agencies or VLEPSC law enforcement self-assessment agencies to assist with becoming VLEPSC accredited and to maintain accreditation
• Funds made available through this funding opportunity cannot be used to replace State or local funds that would, in the absence of this grant, be made available for the same purposes.
• The grant funds can be used for VLEPSC accredited or self-assessment law enforcement agencies PowerDMS agency accreditation management platform annual (12-month) maintenance fee and cannot be used for other accreditation management platform/programs or by any law enforcement agencies that are not VLEPSC accredited or in the VLEPSC self-assessment phase. 

IX. Availability of Continuation Funding 

The award of an Accreditation Enhancement grant does not guarantee funding awards subsequent years. In addition to the availability of funds, a project’s implementation, performance, compliance with reporting requirements, priorities, and any encumbrances placed on the grant are key factors in determining eligibility for continuation funding. 

X. Application Requirements 

Virginia Law Enforcement agencies must be VLEPSC Self-Assessment or VLEPSC Accredited agencies. 

XI. Application Forms and Instructions 

Each application for Accreditation Enhancement funding must be submitted using the DCJS On-line Grant Management System (OGMS) using only the forms provided. Emailed files or paper application will not be accepted. All required fields must be completed to submit an application. Do not include any items not requested (e.g., letter of support, annual reports, publicity articles, etc.). DCJS Fiscal Year 2025 Accreditation Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines and Application Procedures for VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agencies 

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Page 6 | 24

General Information: The OGMS Application Wizard will assist you in completing the application’s General Information. 

• Step 1: The Wizard requires an application title and primary contact. The application title should include the locality’s name, law enforcement agency name, and fiscal year (e.g., Town of ABC-ABC PD FY23). 

The primary contact is the person who has the day-to-day responsibility for managing the grant. It is recommended that the Project Director (definition under Face Sheet) be listed as the primary contact. You will be able to add other persons to give them access to edit the application in step 3 or associate them later if the grant is awarded. 

• Step 2: Under this step, an Application ID will be assigned, and Program Area, Funding Opportunity, Application Stage, and Application Status will be auto populated. Select the organization for whom you will be submitting this application. Click “Save Form Information” to start Step 3.
• Step 3: Under “Additional Applicants”, select any additional contacts within your organization that will also manage the grant and work on the application, to include the Project Administrator and Finance Officer (definitions under Face Sheet). Only individuals listed as an applicant will have access to the application. Once you click “Save Form Information” on Step 3, you will have completed the General Information component of the application. 

After General Information has been finished, you can complete the application in any order or save to return at another time. 

Face Sheet Required 

• Congressional District: Select the Congressional District(s) that will benefit from the program. To select more than one, hold down the Ctrl key.
• Best Practices: This does not apply to this grant program.
• Jurisdiction(s) Served: Select all jurisdiction(s) served.
• Program Title: This is not required under this grants program.
• Certified Crime Prevention Community: Click the hyperlink on the form to see if your locality is certified.
• VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited or VLEPSC Law Enforcement Self-Assessment: Click Yes or No
• Type of Application: Choose “New”
• Grant Number: This does not apply to this grant program.
• Performance Statement: This does not apply to this grant program.
• Community Setting: Check the box(es) that best describes the applicant service area.
• Brief Project Overview: Provide a short description of the project including information about your agency, your agency PowerDMS status to include new and/or how long PowerDMS has been used within your agency, how your agency has used the platform to manage your accreditation program, if PowerDMS is new to your agency what will you be using PowerDMS for, and your agency VLEPSC accreditation program. Note: The 

DCJS Fiscal Year 2025 Accreditation Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines and Application Procedures for VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agencies 

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• when making final award decisions.
• Project Director, List the person who will have the day-to-day responsibility for managing the project and provide all required contact information. This must be an employee from the law enforcement agency.
• Project Administrator: List the person who has authority to formally commit the locality to complying with all the terms of the grant applications, including the provision. This must be the county administrator: the city, county, or town manager; the chief elected officer of the locality, such as the Mayor or Chairman of the Board of Supervisors (not the Sheriff, or Chief of Police).
• Please note: if someone other than one of these officials has been delegated the authority to sign and provides their signature on the grant application, your organization must: (1) provide a letter, memorandum, or other document by which the signing authority was delegated on an official organization letterhead, (2) provide an effective date, (3) list of applicable grant numbers, (4) provide the contact information of the person being granted signatory authority, and (5) submit under “Attachments”.
• The received letter, memorandum, or other documents shall run through the project period as defined in the grant award terms and conditions.
• A new letter is required for any newly issued DCJS grant and/or change in delegation of authority.
• Finance Officer: List the person who will be responsible for the fiscal management of the funds and provide all required contact information. 

Budget: Required 

• Budget: Click “Edit Grid” and enter your requested DCJS amount under the “Federal” column. 

Priority Areas: Responses to all questions in this section are required. 

• Law Enforcement Agency Information: Provide the following information on the law enforcement agency VLEPSC Accreditation Program.
• Law Enforcement Agency is in VLEPSC Self-Assessment Phase?
• Law Enforcement Agency VLEPSC Accredited?
• Does your agency currently use PowerDMS to manage your VLEPSC accreditation?
• Does your agency currently use partial components of managing PowerDMS?
• Will your agency be increasing the PowerDMS components that you use to manage your VLEPSC accreditation program?
• List any current grant funding that your agency is using to assist your law enforcement agency with accreditation. 

Project Targets: This section is required under this grant program. Enter project targets (goals) for the upcoming grant year. 

Personnel and Employee Benefits: To request funding for Personnel and Employee Benefits. You should answer, “Yes” when asked. DCJS Fiscal Year 2025 Accreditation Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines and Application Procedures for VLEPSC Law Enforcement Accredited Agencies 

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Travel: To request funding for Travel. You should answer, “Yes” when asked. 

Equipment: To request funding for Equipment. You should answer, “Yes” when asked. 

For this funding opportunity, equipment is defined as tangible property having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit cost which equals or exceeds $5,000. All other expenses should be itemized as supplies. 

Grant funds cannot support the entire cost of an item that is not used exclusively for grant project-related activities. 

Supplies and Other Expenses: To request funding for Supplies or 

. PowerDMS maintenance fee. You should answer, “Yes” when asked. 

• Supply/Item Requested: List the item to be purchased.
• Cost Per Item/Monthly Rate: Enter the monthly rate for the item.
• Total Amount of Items/Number of Months: Enter the number of months requiring payment.
• Total Cost: This figure will auto-calculate when you save the row.
• Supplies & Other Expenses Funding: Break down the “Total Cost” under “Federal”. The Supplies & Other Expenses Total” will auto-calculate when you save the row. 

Supply/Item Requested Description and Justification: 

Attachments: Budget Narrative 

Non-Supplantation: The section is required under this grant program. The Project Administrator, or the individual who has been delegated or designated as the signing authority, must certify that the grant funds requested under this grant program will be used to supplement existing funds and will not replace (supplant) funds appropriated for the same purposes. Funds made available through this award cannot be used to replace state or local funds that would, in the absence of this grant, be made available for the same purposes.