State Public Safety Grant Guide
Delaware Public Safety Grants
Funding pathways, FY 2026 JAG allocations, drone operations, federal UAS award restrictions, and Delaware surveillance and cybersecurity review for public-safety agencies.
This Delaware page is part of the MAXSUR Public Safety Grant Resource Center. It connects criminal-justice, emergency-management and cybersecurity funding with the rules that can affect a drone, camera or connected surveillance project.
Use the official grant notices to confirm the applicant, deadline and allowable expenses. For the broader federal framework behind this state-specific guide, read MAXSUR’s NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS procurement guide.
Planning note (reviewed September 26, 2026): Section 1334 regulates drone operations but does not itself impose a blanket brand or country-of-origin purchase ban. Federal awards, government contracts, DTI rules for covered state systems, and an agency’s own policies may add restrictions. Determine which rules apply to the specific buyer, system and mission.
Delaware Drone Procurement & Compliance
Delaware UAS Operations, Federal Funding and Surveillance Security
Delaware’s flight statute, federal award rules and state technology policies answer different questions. A mission exemption does not decide whether a purchase is grant eligible or whether a camera system meets state security standards.
11 Del. C. § 1334
The statute restricts specified flights and includes law-enforcement, written-permission, certain educational and FAA-authorized exceptions.
ASDA / FASC
Federal award funds generally cannot procure or be used in connection with operating a FASC-prohibited UAS, subject to exceptions and waivers.
DTI Policy
Covered state surveillance projects face security, networking, access and recording requirements; check the policy’s scope and exceptions.
DTI Business Case
A qualifying state IT project needs DTI business-case approval before the grant or budget request, RFP, contract or proof of concept.
Delaware’s UAS Flight Law Is Mission Specific
11 Del. C. § 1334 generally bars knowing UAS flights over a sporting event, concert, race, festival or other event with more than 1,500 attendees; over critical infrastructure; or over an incident where first responders are actively responding or transporting people. It also addresses harassment, invasion of privacy and protective orders.
The statute’s exemptions include UAS used for law-enforcement purposes, written permission from a property owner or occupier, specified educational use and FAA-authorized commercial or other operations. Read the exact exemption before planning a flight; an exemption from this state offense is not a federal award waiver or product approval.
State Surveillance Policy: Scope and Technical Controls
Delaware DTI’s Video Surveillance Policy applies to covered state video surveillance. It calls for supported firmware, isolated network segments, limited internet access and appropriate retention. Appendix A includes ONVIF, authentication and network controls for covered IP video systems. The policy describes scope limits and exceptions for law enforcement and certain facilities, including schools and correctional institutions; confirm applicability with DTI for the proposed system.
Check the IT Business Case Before Funding
DTI says a new or enhanced state IT initiative needs a business case when it meets certain criteria, including a cloud or AI solution containing State-owned data regardless of cost, $100,000 or more in hardware/software or implementation services, or more than 500 labor hours. For a covered project, approval should come before a grant or budget request, IT solicitation, contract or proof of concept. Routine purchases and other listed categories may be exempt; DTI also reviews IT-related purchases over $10,000. Ask the agency’s DTI business relationship manager how these rules apply.
Federal Funding and the Four Labels
American Security Drone Act: OMB M-26-02 Appendix D restricts use of federal award funds to procure or in connection with operating FASC-prohibited UAS from December 22, 2025, subject to authorized exceptions and waivers. NDAA Section 889 separately covers specified telecommunications and video-surveillance equipment and services. FCC Covered List affects new equipment authorization for covered products; existing authorizations require their own review. TAA origin rules apply to covered federal acquisitions when invoked. Blue UAS is a federal vetting pathway, not a universal Delaware purchasing requirement.
Delaware Cybersecurity Funding Fit
DEMA administers the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program with DTI’s statewide cybersecurity planning process. DEMA says eligible subrecipients may apply on a rolling basis with quarterly deadlines. The intended fit is eligible government information-system risk reduction. A drone or camera purchase should not be assumed eligible merely because it has a network connection. Define the cyber project, confirm the current state priorities and obtain administrator approval for the proposed cost.
Practical Delaware UAS Procurement Checklist
- Trace the funds. Identify local, state, direct federal and pass-through funds, and read each award’s equipment and operation terms.
- Check the drone itself. For federal awards, screen the proposed UAS against the ASDA/FASC rule in OMB M-26-02 Appendix D and any applicable exception or waiver.
- Review every connected component. Document aircraft, cameras, radios, controller, networking equipment, cloud services and vendor access; apply Section 889 and FCC checks where relevant.
- Map the Delaware flight. Check FAA authority, agency policy, § 1334 event, critical-infrastructure and first-responder restrictions, and the exact statutory exemption used.
- Engage DTI on covered state technology. For applicable projects, check the video surveillance policy, network isolation, patching, access, retention and any required IT business case before a grant request or contract.
- Preserve the procurement file. Keep source-of-funds analysis, vendor representations, system architecture, security review, approvals, exceptions and grant correspondence.
Need the broader federal picture? Read NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS Explained alongside the Delaware-specific sources above.
Available Funding Pathways
Delaware Grant Opportunities
These established pathways have different eligibility, allowable costs and application windows. Technology examples are planning fits, not automatic grant approval. Current Local JAG deadlines and the DEMA cybersecurity submission cadence are shown; verify each remaining window with its administrator.
| Grant / program | Level | Administrator | Potential project fit | Application status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Byrne JAG | Federal / State | CJC / BJA | Approved criminal justice technology, training and equipment | Check CJC’s new Grants Management System |
| Local JAG formula awards | Federal | BJA | Eligible law enforcement equipment and program improvements | Open FY 2026: Grants.gov Oct 9; JustGrants Oct 16 (Eastern) |
| Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) | Federal / State | DEMA / FEMA | Preparedness, interoperability and eligible protective capabilities | Invitation only; check DEMA notice |
| Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) | Federal / State | DEMA / FEMA | Emergency management planning, training and capability | Invitation only; check DEMA guidance |
| State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) | Federal / State | DEMA / FEMA-CISA | Eligible public-sector cyber resilience projects | Rolling with quarterly deadlines; confirm current DEMA / DTI guidance |
| Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) | Federal / State | DEMA / FEMA | Eligible nonprofit physical and cyber security | Check DEMA guidance |
| Delaware Office of Highway Safety grants | Federal / State | Delaware OHS / NHTSA | Traffic safety enforcement, training and data projects | Check current OHS program |
| Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program | Federal | BJA | Body-worn camera implementation and policy | Check current BJA solicitation |
| Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program | Federal | BJA | Overdose response and interagency coordination | Check current BJA solicitation |
| Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement | Federal / State | BJA / CJC | Crime laboratory capacity and forensic science improvement | Check administrator notice |
| DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction | Federal | BJA | Eligible DNA processing capacity and lab workflows | Check current BJA solicitation |
| Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) | Federal / State | BJA / CJC | Correctional treatment and reentry coordination | Check CJC announcement |
| Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) | Federal | BJA | Testing, evidence tracking and related investigations | Check current BJA solicitation |
| School Violence Prevention Program | Federal | DOJ COPS Office | Eligible school security measures | Check current COPS solicitation |
| Community Policing Development Microgrants | Federal | DOJ COPS Office | Innovative community policing projects | Check current COPS solicitation |
| Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force | Federal | OJJDP | Eligible digital investigations and task force capacity | Check current OJJDP solicitation |
Where to look first: CJC says most new opportunities will appear in its new Grants Management System. DEMA lists its preparedness and cyber programs on its grants page.
FY 2026 Formula Funding
Delaware Local JAG Allocations
BJA lists six direct or joint allocation entries for eligible Delaware jurisdictions. A joint entry is one award to a fiscal agent for the listed group, with allocation sharing documented by the jurisdictions; these amounts do not prove a particular equipment purchase.
| Jurisdiction(s) | FY 2026 allocation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dover, Smyrna and Kent County (joint) | $97,043 | BJA allocation list |
| Georgetown, Laurel, Milford, Seaford and Sussex County (joint) | $74,449 | BJA allocation list |
| Middletown | $13,853 | BJA allocation list |
| New Castle County | $170,306 | BJA allocation list |
| Newark | $19,186 | BJA allocation list |
| Wilmington | $196,160 | BJA allocation list |
The six entries total $570,997, matching BJA’s FY 2026 Delaware local allocation list. Eligible jurisdictions should review the FY 2026 Local JAG solicitation: Grants.gov closes October 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern; JustGrants closes October 16, 2026 at 8:59 p.m. Eastern.
Delaware Procurement FAQ
Common Questions From Delaware Public-Safety Buyers
Confirm the applicable grant notice, law, policy and system configuration before committing funds.
Does Delaware have a blanket Chinese-drone purchase ban?
The UAS flight statute reviewed here, 11 Del. C. § 1334, does not impose a blanket manufacturer purchase ban. A federal award, contract, agency policy or covered state technology requirement can still restrict a particular system.
Does the law-enforcement flight exemption make a drone federally fundable?
No. The Delaware exemption concerns specified state flight offenses. Federal award funds have a separate ASDA/FASC test under OMB M-26-02 Appendix D, subject to its exceptions and waivers.
Does Delaware require every UAS to be Blue UAS or TAA compliant?
No universal Delaware requirement was identified in § 1334. Check the actual award, contract and agency specifications. Blue UAS vetting and TAA country-of-origin rules answer different questions.
When does a Delaware state surveillance project need a DTI business case?
DTI identifies qualifying new or enhanced IT initiatives, including cloud or AI systems with State-owned data and specified cost or labor thresholds. Covered projects should obtain approval before a grant request, solicitation, contract or proof of concept.
Are the $570,997 JAG figures actual drone awards?
No. They are FY 2026 formula allocations for eligible jurisdictions and disparate groups. BJA’s listing is not evidence that a drone or another specific project was funded.
Where do Delaware agencies find current state-administered notices?
Check the Criminal Justice Council’s new Grants Management System for CJC programs and Delaware Emergency Management Agency’s grants pages for preparedness and cybersecurity programs.
MAXSUR Solution Pathways
Connect Delaware Funding to Field-Ready Capability
MAXSUR supports public-safety agencies with mission-focused systems, integration, training and procurement documentation. Confirm allowable costs and award conditions for each project.
Procurement Pathway
Use Grant Funding With a Documented Purchase Path
After identifying a Delaware grant, confirm the applicable competitive process, federal award terms, DTI review and equipment eligibility. MAXSUR’s BuyBoard contract may help an eligible agency purchase an approved solution where cooperative procurement is permitted.
BuyBoard participation does not itself establish grant allowability or replace a required Delaware procurement or state technology review.