Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program

Overview
The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program will provide funding to assist eligible states and local units of government in preventing, preparing for, and responding to the coronavirus.

Guidelines from the CARES Act: Funds may only be used for the following:

  • For necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19)
  • For expenditures that were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 (the date of enactment of the CARES Act) for the State or government
  • For expenditures incurred during the period that begins on January 20,2020 and ends on December 31, 2020

Please Note:  Funds may not be used to fill shortfalls in government revenue to cover expenditures that would not otherwise qualify under the statute.

Permissible uses of Funds
Funds awarded under the CESF Program must be utilized to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Allowable projects and purchases include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment (including law enforcement and medical personal protective equipment), hiring, supplies (such as gloves, masks, sanitizer), training, travel expenses (particularly related to the distribution of resources to the most impacted areas), and addressing the medical needs of inmates in state and local prisons, jails, and detention centers.

Click Here For More Details On Allowable Items For COVID-19

Click Here For CESF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Eligibility Information
Eligible entities are State agencies, local jurisdictions (municipalities/counties), and other relevant criminal justice organizations in Arkansas that are ineligible to apply directly to BJA.

The list of eligible local governments to apply directly to the U.S. Department of Justice can be found here: https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/fy20-cesf-allocations-ar.pdf

Local units of government eligible to apply directly to the U.S. Department of Justice can access the solicitation here: https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/bja-2020-18553.pdf

Request For Application (RFA) and Submission Information: 
Subaward Information-COVID-19 Rapid Response (Phase I) - Open
Click Here For RFA and Forms 

Request For Application (RFA) Submission                       May 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020
RFA Due Date:                                                                        Monday, June 1, 2020
Maximum Number of subawards expected to make*:      N/A
Total Award Amount Available-Phase I:                               $1,246,856
          Applicant-State Agencies                                           $   748,114
          Applicant-Local Jurisdictions and Other                  $   498,742
Project Start Date:                                                                 On or Before July 1, 2020
Project Period Duration:                                                       6 Months (Or Not To Surpass
                                                                                                 December 31, 2020)

Subaward Information – COVID-19 Long-Term Response (Phase II) – Not Open

Request For Application (RFA) Submission                              To Be Announced
RFA Due Date:                                                                         To Be Announced
Maximum number of subawards expected to make*:                 N/A
Total Award Amount Available-Phase II:                                     $4,987,426
           Applicant-State Agencies                                                $2,992,456
           Applicant-Local Jurisdictions and Other                          $1,994,970
Project Start Date:                                                                     October 1, 2020
Project Period Duration:                                                            12 Months (October 1, 2020 to
                                                                                                  September 30, 2022)

*The Numbers of awards and amounts of subawards are based on the availability of funding*