SMART FY25 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program | O SMART 2025 172307

SMART FY25 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program (SORNA) - FAQs

What is the SMART FY25 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program?

This is a discretionary federal grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice SMART Office. It is designed to help jurisdictions develop, improve, or expand the policies, systems, and operational capacity needed to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The program supports jurisdictions working toward meeting SORNA requirements for operating a sex offender registry and ensuring required individuals register and keep their information current in every jurisdiction where they live, work, or attend school. It also supports the administrative and technical capacity needed to sustain compliance-related work over time.

What is SORNA and why does it matter for this program?

SORNA is a federal law enacted under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. It sets nationwide standards for sex offender registration and notification, with the goal of improving consistency across jurisdictions and strengthening public safety through reliable registration, tracking, and information-sharing practices.

What kinds of activities or projects does the program typically support?

Grant-funded projects often relate to upgrading registry management processes, improving data accuracy and completeness, strengthening interagency coordination, and building the ability to exchange registration information across jurisdictional lines in the way SORNA contemplates.

What SORNA responsibilities are specifically highlighted in the solicitation?

The solicitation highlights responsibilities including participation in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov), interjurisdictional information exchange, and handling requirements tied to international travel (including receiving, processing, and transmitting advance notice of international travel as required).

What is NSOPW.gov and how does it relate to this grant?

NSOPW.gov is the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, a national public-facing portal that links participating jurisdictions and enables public searches. The grant emphasizes participation in NSOPW.gov as part of SORNA-driven responsibilities.

What does the solicitation mean by "interjurisdictional information exchange"?

It refers to SORNA's expectation that jurisdictions share timely and consistent information when registrants move or otherwise create cross-border public safety needs. The grant supports efforts that strengthen a jurisdiction's ability to exchange registration information across jurisdictional lines.

How does the grant relate to international travel requirements?

The solicitation notes SORNA-related requirements tied to international travel, including the need for offenders to provide advance notice when traveling internationally. This requires jurisdictions to have procedures and systems to receive, process, and transmit that information as required.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to governmental entities that qualify as SORNA "jurisdictions" under federal law. This includes state-level government entities and certain U.S. territories/commonwealths, as well as federally recognized tribal governments that are eligible under 34 U.S.C. 20929 to carry out SORNA functions and that have elected to implement SORNA.

What does "state" mean for eligibility under this program?

For eligibility, "state" is broadly defined to include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and major U.S. territories and commonwealths: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Are tribal governments eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments are eligible if they are eligible under 34 U.S.C. 20929 to carry out SORNA functions and have elected to implement SORNA.

Are private organizations eligible to apply?

No. The opportunity is intended for governments responsible for operating or overseeing sex offender registration functions, not for private organizations acting independently of those authorities.

What should applicants use as the main guidance for building their proposals?

Applicants are directed to base proposals on federal guidance interpreting SORNA requirements, including the National Guidelines for Sex Offender Registration and Notification, multiple supplemental guidelines (including guidance related to juvenile registration), and Attorney General rules.

Where can applicants find SORNA implementation resources mentioned in the solicitation?

The solicitation indicates these documents and other implementation resources are available through the SMART Office website at SMART.gov.

Does the solicitation mention juvenile registration guidance?

Yes. It specifically references supplemental guidelines, including guidance related to juvenile registration, as part of the federal materials applicants should use to align projects with SORNA standards.

What budget requirements are emphasized?

The notice flags the importance of following required application contents and budget guidance, including using a Budget Detail Form that identifies allowable and unallowable costs. This will shape what activities can be funded and how spending must be justified.

What is the opportunity number and CFDA number for this grant?

The opportunity number is O-SMART-2025-172307 and the CFDA number is 16.750.

How many awards are anticipated?

The funding details anticipate approximately 50 awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award ceiling is $400,000 per grant.

Is this a competitive grant?

Yes. Awards are expected to be competitive.

When is the application due?

The original application closing date is March 3, 2025.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on January 15, 2025.

In one sentence, how should jurisdictions think about the focus of this program?

It is targeted implementation support for jurisdictions building or strengthening their ability to meet SORNA standards, operate effective registries, connect to national systems like NSOPW.gov, and manage the ongoing administrative and technical requirements of sex offender registration and notification.