Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVC 2026 172723
The OVC FY 2026 Victim Reunification Travel Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), to fund the Victim Reunification Travel (VRT) Program operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The purpose of the program is straightforward but highly practical: it helps cover travel needs for parents whose children have been abducted by a noncustodial parent and taken across international borders. In particular, the funding supports parents traveling to participate in Hague Convention proceedings (which are often central to international child abduction cases) and/or traveling to accompany their children back to the United States after a return is secured. In other words, the grant is designed to remove a major logistical and financial barrier that can prevent families from taking timely action in international parental kidnapping situations.
This award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning OVC is not only providing funding but also expects an ongoing working relationship with the recipient around program requirements, oversight, and adherence to established procedures. Under this NOFO, NCMEC will operate the VRT Program using guidelines and processes laid out by OVC, including the mechanism for requesting the release of funds for eligible services. The program is intended to support services for victims of international parental kidnapping and, in some cases, federal crime victims more broadly, consistent with OVCs victim assistance authority.
The legal basis for funding is tied to two related statutory authorities. One is 34 U.S.C. 11293(b), which directs the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to make an annual grant to NCMEC for purposes connected to assisting missing and exploited children and their families, including providing assistance to parents and other custodians. The other is 34 U.S.C. 20103(c)(1)(B), which authorizes OVC to assist victims of federal crimes. OVC notes that it has supported the VRT Program since 2004 under this victim-assistance authority, reflecting that the program has been treated as an established, ongoing need rather than a one-time initiative.
A key feature of this opportunity is that it is an invited, sole-eligible-applicant NOFO. Eligibility is limited to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the notice explicitly states that no other applicants may apply. As a result, this opportunity functions more like a formal public notice of a planned award than an open competition. The expected number of awards is one, with an award ceiling of $300,000.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 16.582, within the broad funding activity area of Income Security and Social Services. The funding opportunity number is O-OVC-2026-172723. The NOFO was created on 2026-09-01, and the listed closing date is 2026-09-02, which aligns with the invited nature of the award (since a lengthy competitive application window is not necessary when only one organization is eligible to apply).Apply for O OVC 2026 172723
- The Office for Victims of Crime in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY 2026 Victim Reunification Travel Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.582.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-02. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: OVC FY 2026 Victim Reunification Travel Program (VRT) - NCMEC
What is the OVC FY 2026 Victim Reunification Travel Program (VRT) grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), to support the Victim Reunification Travel (VRT) Program operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
What is the purpose of the VRT Program funded by this opportunity?
The program helps cover travel needs for parents whose children have been abducted by a noncustodial parent and taken across international borders. It is designed to reduce logistical and financial barriers that can delay action in international parental kidnapping situations.
What kinds of travel does the program support?
Based on the description provided, funding supports travel for parents to (1) participate in Hague Convention proceedings related to international child abduction cases and/or (2) accompany their children back to the United States after a return is secured.
Who is the issuing agency for this funding opportunity?
The issuing agency is the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
Who operates the Victim Reunification Travel (VRT) Program?
The program is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Is this an open, competitive grant that any organization can apply for?
No. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is an invited, sole-eligible-applicant opportunity. Eligibility is explicitly limited to NCMEC, and the notice states that no other applicants may apply.
How many awards does OVC expect to make under this NOFO?
The expected number of awards is one.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $300,000.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This award is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means OVC provides funding and also expects an ongoing working relationship with the recipient related to program requirements, oversight, and compliance with established procedures.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement in practical terms?
The NOFO indicates OVC will have continuing involvement, including expectations around oversight and adherence to OVC-established guidelines and processes. NCMEC is expected to operate the VRT Program using OVC-provided procedures, including the mechanism for requesting the release of funds for eligible services.
What population is the program intended to support?
The program is intended to support services for victims of international parental kidnapping. The description also notes that, in some cases, it may support federal crime victims more broadly, consistent with OVC's victim assistance authority.
What are Hague Convention proceedings and why are they mentioned here?
The NOFO describes Hague Convention proceedings as often central to international child abduction cases. The VRT Program funding is intended to help parents travel to participate in those proceedings when needed.
What are the statutory authorities supporting this funding?
The legal basis described includes two statutory authorities: 34 U.S.C. 11293(b) (directing an annual grant to NCMEC for purposes connected to assisting missing and exploited children and their families, including assistance to parents and other custodians) and 34 U.S.C. 20103(c)(1)(B) (authorizing OVC to assist victims of federal crimes).
Has OVC funded the VRT Program before?
Yes. OVC notes it has supported the VRT Program since 2004 under its victim-assistance authority, reflecting that the program is treated as an established, ongoing need.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 16.582.
What funding activity area is this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity is listed under the broad funding activity area of Income Security and Social Services.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is O-OVC-2026-172723.
When was the NOFO created?
The NOFO was created on 2026-09-01.
What is the closing date for the NOFO?
The listed closing date is 2026-09-02.
Why is the application window so short?
The provided description notes the short window aligns with the invited nature of the award, since a lengthy competitive application period is not necessary when only one organization is eligible to apply.
Does this NOFO indicate how funds are requested or released for eligible services?
Yes, at a high level. It states NCMEC will operate the VRT Program using guidelines and processes laid out by OVC, including the mechanism for requesting the release of funds for eligible services. The detailed process is not included in the information provided.
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