FY 24 ILETSB - NIBIN Advance Working Capital Grant Program

Grants to local law enforcement agencies to satisfy initial capital expenditures and other costs associated with the expansion and support of National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) and other ballistic technology equipment for ballistic testing. This opportunity is intended to assist agencies that have not yet purchased NIBIN equipment, or the expansion or support items covered under program. Under this opportunity, Grantees may request advance working capital to initiate their NIBIN program or enhancements and may also request the reimbursement of additional funds to be utilized over the next two years.

General Revenue Funds

Applicant Eligibility: Law enforcement agencies meeting the following criteria are eligible for financial assistance from the Program. The law enforcement agency must: 1) be an Illinois law enforcement agency of a unit of local government, or public university reflected in the Board’s Law Enforcement Document Interchange (LEDI) database; 2) be intending to purchase and possess ballistic imaging and comparison equipment that allows or assists law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories to conduct an initial comparison of thousands of pieces of crime firearm evidence in seconds; 3) be capable of processing firearm test fires and ballistic evidence from other agencies within 30 days; and 4) be willing to share NIBIN and ballistics imaging equipment, facilities, and intelligence. In addition, Grantees will be expected to meet the following as a condition of receiving an award: A. Any distributed capital advance funds must be held in a special account, segregated from other deposits and withdrawals. This must be an interest-bearing account. Grantee may apply any interest earned on the provided capital to the project. However, if any portion of the capital advance is returned, the interest must be provided to the Grantor. B. Grantee must take all reasonable steps to minimize the amount of time advanced funds are held in the account. All advanced funds must be utilized within six months of receipt. Failure to do so may void the award and warrant an immediate return of all advance funds, plus interest. C. Grantee must comply with all state and federal requirements regarding granted equipment. 2 CFR 200.313. Specifically, Grantee must ensure that the equipment will not be used for any unauthorized purposes, that the equipment will be protected from loss, damage, and theft, and that anyone using the equipment is properly trained in its operation and safety. Grantee must also acknowledge that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board has an interest in the equipment and that the Board’s approval must be obtained before the equipment is moved, transferred, or otherwise disposed within three years of receipt of an award. D. Grantee must comply with all state and federal procurement requirements related to grantmaking. See 2 CFR 200.317-325. Specifically, Grantee must solicit bids for the desired equipment, or provide justification for utilizing a sole-source provider. Additionally, Grantee must verify that it has no professional, personal, financial, or familial conflict of interest with the selected vendor. Credentials Documentation: Recipient must have a W-9 on file with Grantor.

The above link is a video about creating an account and registering your organization with the GATA Grantee Portal, and navigating the applicant portal in AmpliFund. Note: There is no fund matching requirement for this grant.

The Board shall make awards in accordance with the evaluation and selection criteria of this Section as reflected on the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) as published in the Catalog of State Financial Assistance. When making awards and disbursing grant funds, the Board shall take the following factors into consideration: 1) The number of law enforcement officers employed by the law enforcement agency, 2) The median household income in the law enforcement agency’s community (as identified by the U.S. Census Bureau), 3) The crime rate in the law enforcement agency’s community (as identified by the Illinois State Police), 4) The total number of firearm discharge incidents in the law enforcement agency's community, 5) Whether or not the law enforcement agency's community received revenue from red light and or speed enforcement cameras within the last three years, and 6) Whether or not the applicant agency is compliant with the reporting requirements of the Uniform Crime Reporting Act. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall award: 1) Purchase and expansion grants up to $500,000 to law enforcement agencies to assist them with the establishment of NIBIN ballistic imaging facilities that can be shared among law enforcement agencies. These funds may be used to satisfy costs associated with: A) The purchase of ballistic imaging and comparison equipment; B) The relocation or transfer of equipment, or both, to a space where ballistic imaging facilities can be shared among multiple law enforcement agencies; or C) The construction or renovation, or both, of a building to house ballistic imaging equipment to be shared among multiple law enforcement agencies. 2) Support grants up to $150,000, for the support of existing NIBIN ballistic imaging facilities that are shared with at least 3 other law enforcement agencies. These funds may be used to satisfy costs for operator support, equipment for safe test firing of crime firearms, ammunition for test firing, maintenance fees, system upgrades, general maintenance, and required repairs; 3) Purchase grants up to $25,000 to law enforcement agencies to obtain ballistic imaging and comparison equipment that communicates with the NIBIN database or assists in the imaging and assessment of ballistic identification data; and 4) Education and training grants up to $25,000, to satisfy costs for training associated with operation and use of NIBIN facilities or ballistic imagining equipment in Illinois completed by active law enforcement officers. Advance payment awards will be made based on the total amount of funds approved by the Board relative to the amount of available funding. After evaluating the award criteria, the Board may accelerate processing and or reduce an award from the law enforcement agency’s requested amount.

Agencies must submit monthly reports upon award until such time as the Advance Working Capital is utilized toward the purchase of the subject equipment. After that, grantees must submit quarterly financial and performance reports in additional to annual performance reports.

After award, but before the receipt of funds, grantees receiving funds for the purchase of equipment must provide an equipment Interest policy to the Board which acknowledges the requirements of 2 CFR 200.313.