Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVC 2026 172699
The OVC FY 2026 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), designed to strengthen how jurisdictions identify and respond to human trafficking. The program’s central goal is to support communities in building or expanding a multidisciplinary task force model that brings key partners together in a coordinated way, with an emphasis on improving victim identification, expanding and strengthening service delivery for trafficking survivors, and increasing the effectiveness of trafficking-related investigations and casework. In practical terms, the grant is meant to help local and regional systems move beyond fragmented responses by aligning law enforcement, victim service providers, and other stakeholders around shared protocols, joint strategies, and survivor-centered operations.
A defining feature of this NOFO is that it requires a formal paired application structure: the lead law enforcement agency and the lead victim service organization must apply together as partners. Each lead entity must submit its own application separately in both Grants.gov and JustGrants, meaning there are two parallel submissions for one joint project concept: one filed by an eligible lead law enforcement applicant and one filed by an eligible lead victim service organization. The two applicants are expected to submit identical proposal narratives to reflect a single, unified task force strategy, while still providing separate and distinct budgets that correspond to each organization’s roles, responsibilities, and costs. The solicitation makes the partnership requirement non-negotiable; applications will not be considered for funding if an applicant does not apply with an eligible partner, so a solo submission by only law enforcement or only a victim services organization would be deemed ineligible.
The opportunity is cataloged under Funding Opportunity Number O-OVC-2026-172699 and CFDA (Assistance Listing) 16.320, and it is categorized under the broader activity area of Income Security and Social Services. The agency anticipates making around 30 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000 per award. The original application closing date is listed as October 14, 2026, and the opportunity was created on August 19, 2026.
Eligibility is broad and accommodates many types of entities that commonly anchor or support anti-trafficking task forces. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), along with other eligible entity types as specified by the solicitation. Even with this wide eligibility range, the structural requirement remains that the project must be jointly led by an eligible law enforcement agency and an eligible victim service organization, each submitting its own application packages through the required federal submission systems.
Overall, the ECM model reflected in this NOFO is aimed at producing a more consistent, victim-centered, and operationally coordinated response to trafficking by ensuring that victim services and law enforcement are co-leading the strategy from the outset. The design strongly signals OVC’s expectation that funded task forces will integrate service provision and investigative activities, reduce gaps between identification and assistance, and improve outcomes through shared planning, collaborative implementation, and clearly resourced roles on both the victim services and law enforcement sides.Apply for O OVC 2026 172699
- The Office for Victims of Crime in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY 2026 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.320.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.
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FAQs: OVC FY 2026 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
What is the OVC FY 2026 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking grant?
This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). It is designed to strengthen how jurisdictions identify and respond to human trafficking by supporting communities in building or expanding a multidisciplinary task force model.
What is the main goal of the ECM Task Force program?
The central goal is to help communities build or expand a coordinated, multidisciplinary task force that improves victim identification, strengthens and expands service delivery for trafficking survivors, and increases the effectiveness of trafficking-related investigations and casework.
What types of improvements is this grant intended to support?
Based on the program description, the grant supports moving communities beyond fragmented responses by aligning law enforcement, victim service providers, and other stakeholders around shared protocols, joint strategies, and survivor-centered operations.
What does "Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM)" mean in practice for applicants?
It refers to a model where key partners work in a coordinated way, with law enforcement and victim services co-leading the strategy. The intent is to integrate service provision and investigative activities and reduce gaps between victim identification and access to assistance through shared planning and collaborative implementation.
Is a partnership required to apply?
Yes. The solicitation requires a formal paired application structure. The lead law enforcement agency and the lead victim service organization must apply together as partners.
Can a law enforcement agency apply without a victim service organization partner (or vice versa)?
No. The partnership requirement is described as non-negotiable. Applications will not be considered for funding if an applicant does not apply with an eligible partner, and a solo submission by only law enforcement or only a victim services organization would be deemed ineligible.
How many applications must be submitted for one joint project?
Two applications must be submitted: one by the eligible lead law enforcement applicant and one by the eligible lead victim service organization. These are parallel submissions for one joint project concept.
Do both partner organizations need to submit through Grants.gov and JustGrants?
Yes. Each lead entity must submit its own application separately in both Grants.gov and JustGrants.
Do the two partner applications need to match?
Yes. The two applicants are expected to submit identical proposal narratives to reflect a single, unified task force strategy.
Do the two partner applications need separate budgets?
Yes. While the proposal narratives are expected to be identical, the partners must provide separate and distinct budgets that correspond to each organization's roles, responsibilities, and costs.
Who is the federal awarding agency for this opportunity?
The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this NOFO?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-OVC-2026-172699.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this program?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 16.320.
What activity area/category is this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity is categorized under the broader activity area of Income Security and Social Services.
How many awards does OVC anticipate making?
The agency anticipates making around 30 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per award.
When is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is listed as October 14, 2026.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 19, 2026.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); and other eligible entity types as specified by the solicitation.
Does broad eligibility change the requirement for joint leadership?
No. Even though many entity types may be eligible, the project structure still requires joint leadership by an eligible law enforcement agency and an eligible victim service organization, with each submitting its own application package through the required federal systems.
What kind of task force structure is OVC trying to promote with this grant?
OVC is promoting a multidisciplinary task force model that brings key partners together in a coordinated way, with law enforcement and victim services co-leading from the outset and working under shared protocols and joint strategies.
What outcomes is the ECM model intended to improve?
The NOFO emphasizes improving victim identification, strengthening and expanding service delivery for survivors, increasing the effectiveness of trafficking investigations and casework, reducing gaps between identification and assistance, and improving outcomes through coordinated operations.
Does the solicitation indicate expectations about victim-centered practices?
Yes. The description emphasizes survivor-centered operations and signals an expectation that funded task forces will produce a more consistent, victim-centered, and operationally coordinated response.
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| OVC FY 2026 Housing Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking Apply for O OVC 2026 172692 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172692 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| OVC FY 2026 Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking Apply for O OVC 2026 172693 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172693 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $950,000 |
| OVC FY 2026 Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Apply for O OVC 2026 172696 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172696 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $950,000 |
| OVC FY 2026 Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking Apply for O OVC 2026 172695 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172695 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,600,000 |
| OVC FY2026 Invited to Apply Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance – Traverse City, Michigan (Crisis) Apply for O OVC 2026 172712 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172712 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $918,236 |
| OVC FY2026 Invited to Apply Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance – Rochester Hills, Michigan Apply for O OVC 2026 172710 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172710 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $4,688,627 |
| OVC FY2026 Invited to Apply Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance – East Lansing, Michigan Apply for O OVC 2026 172707 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172707 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $3,964,898 |
| OVC FY2026 Invited to Apply Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance – Grand Blanc, Michigan (Crisis) Apply for O OVC 2026 172713 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172713 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,039,246 |
| OVC FY 2026 Victim Reunification Travel Program Apply for O OVC 2026 172723 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172723 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| OVC FY26 Invited to Apply Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance – Wisconsin Compensation Apply for O OVC 2026 172725 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172725 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,974,787 |
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