The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) notified grantees of operational adjustments in response to COVID-19, implementing maximum telework for staff and maintaining all systems and services remotely. The Grants Payment Request System (GPRS) will continue processing requests, while on-site grant monitoring will shift to remote methods or be postponed, subject to grantee capacity. Guidance was provided for managing cancelled or postponed OJP-sponsored conferences and events, emphasizing the preferred use of refunds or travel credits for future projects, issuing specific instructions on how to handle non-reimbursable costs and documentation requirements for such changes.
Grantees and subrecipients are advised to review relevant financial guidelines to address personnel costs during interruptions and consult with their OJP contacts for specific cost allowability questions. Most grants may be eligible for a no-cost extension of up to 12 months, although statutory limits under certain programs, such as VOCA, cannot be extended beyond their authorized periods. Application deadlines for solicitations between March 16 and March 31, 2020, will be extended by two weeks, with ongoing monitoring for further adjustments. The OJP commits to providing continuous updates and support, emphasizing flexibility and encouraging communication to ensure effective grant management during the COVID-19 response.
