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Frequently Asked Questions

Question How can I learn about current funding opportunities from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)?

Answer There are several ways that agencies can learn about current funding opportunities from COPS:

  • You may contact the COPS Office Response Center by email or by telephone at 800.421.6770. Response Center Technical Assistance Representatives can work with you to determine what funding opportunities meet your agency's needs.
  • You may visit the COPS funding page. This site posts new funding opportunities as they become available. We recommend that you visit the COPS site frequently to stay abreast of new information.
  • The COPS Office Response Center also offers callers the ability to receive grant and funding information via fax through the Fax-on-Demand service. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To utilize this service, call the COPS Office Response Center at 800.421.6770 and choose option 1. (Grant applications are not available by Fax-on-Demand)

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Question What is the mailing address for the COPS Office?

Answer The COPS mailing address is:

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
1100 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530 (Please use zip code 20005 for overnight delivery)

Note: The COPS Office continues to experience delays in receiving mail sent via U.S. Postal Service. We encourage grantees to send time-sensitive documents using an overnight courier service (e.g., Federal Express or UPS).

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Question Our agency will not use the funds awarded in the time period assigned to our grant. How do we request an extension of the grant period?

Answer Agencies requiring additional time to expend their grant funds may request a no-cost extension. You can call the Department of Justice Response Center at 800.421.6770 or your Grant Program Specialist.

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Question How do I complete my Financial Status Report (SF269A) form?

Answer COPS has developed a "Helpful Hints Guide for Completing a Financial Status Report (SF-269A)." and a fact sheet to assist you. The guide offers a line by line description of the Financial Status Report. This information is available on the COPS website in the Common Forms section.

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Question How do I submit my COPS Financial Status Report (SF269A)?

Answer COPS Financial Status Reports (SF269A) can now be completed on-line using the Web-based 269 system.

The due dates for filing the Financial Status Reports remain the same: no later than 45 after the last day of each reporting quarter. The web-based 269 system requires the same information as the paper version. Grantees now have the ability to view all previous Financial Status Reports on file as well as file and revise the report for the current fiscal quarter.

Grantees may also submit Financial Status Reports by fax to 202.616.9004.

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Question I tried drawing down funds and PAPRS is telling me that I am delinquent on my SF269A. Can you tell me what I need to do?

Answer Grantees are required to submit a Financial Status Report (SF269A) each calendar quarter following receipt and acceptance of the grant award. Past due or inaccurate SF269As may have a negative effect on a grantee's ability to draw down funds. Please contact the COPS Office Response Center at 800.421.6770 or via email to determine the most recent SF269A on file.

Grantees now may view all previous Financial Status Reports on file by using the Web-based 269 system. Grantees can view and print copies of each Financial Status Report submitted through the life of the grant.

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Question I tried drawing down funds and PAPRS is telling me that our agency has not returned the signed award document for this grant. Our department mailed that information. What should we do?

Answer Please contact the COPS Office Response Center at 800.421.6770 and a Technical Assistance Representative will assist in resolving the issue. To help in this process, please have a copy of the signed award document available when you call.

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Question How do I change our agency's banking information?

Answer In order to change your organization's banking information, you must submit a new ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form to the Office of the Comptroller Customer Service Center. A bank representative or the ACH Coordinator of the financial institution should sign the completed form. We recommend that you use a courier service (e.g., Federal Express or UPS) for tracking purposes to ensure delivery to the Customer Service Center at the following address: 

Office of Justice Programs 
Office of the Comptroller Attn: Customer Service Center 
810 7th Street, NW 
5th Floor, Room 5120 
Washington, DC 20001.

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Question I am experiencing difficulty logging in to my agency's COPS account. The systems states my COPS Online user ID and password is invalid. How do I go about getting that information?

Answer   If you lose or forget your user ID and password, please contact the Department of Justice Response Center at 800.421.6770 or via email. Please provide the following information:

  • ORI
  • Agency Name
  • Law Enforcement Executive
  • Contact person’s name and number

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Question I want to get on the COPS Online site to draw down funds, submit my financial status report, or apply for grants. However, the site will not allow me access to those functions. What do I need to do?

Answer Three online modules are available at this point in the development of the COPS Online site:

  1. Account Maintenance, which allows you to change your username or password.
  2. Additional Account Maintenance, which allows you to add additional accounts for your agency.
  3. Change of Information, which allows you to update your Government and Law Enforcement Executive information.

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Question How can I receive a COPS in Schools 2004 application?

Answer There are two different ways to receive the COPS in Schools 2004 application:

  1. Applicants may download a copy of the COPS in Schools application from the COPS Office website.
  2. Applicants may request a copy to be mailed to them by calling the COPS Office Response Center at 800.421.6770.

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Question How can I submit a completed COPS in Schools 2004 application?

Answer There are two different ways to submit a completed COPS in Schools 2004 application:

  1. Applicants may send the original plus two copies of their completed applications to:

    COPS In Schools Control Desk 
    U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office 
    1100 Vermont Avenue, NW 
    7th Floor,
    Washington, DC 20530 (please use 20005 zip code for overnight mail)

  2. Applicants may submit their applications electronically using Grants.gov. Go to www.grants.gov and follow the steps listed under the section, "Get Started." The Funding Opportunity Number for the 2004 COPS in Schools application is USDOJCOPS-CIS-04.

 

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