State Public Safety Grant Guide
Nebraska Public Safety Grants
Verified grant pathways and Nebraska-specific secure-drone, surveillance and cybersecurity procurement guidance for public-safety agencies.
Nebraska public-safety buyers can combine state-administered justice and preparedness programs with direct federal opportunities when the mission and current notice fit. Before seeking money for a UAS or surveillance system, document the purchasing entity, grant source, aircraft or camera components, data route and intended operations.
The Secure Drone Purchasing Act established a Nebraska list for authorized drone purchases and a January 2027 state-agency cutoff. Other surveillance technology can trigger the separate Foreign Adversary Contracting Prohibition Act. See MAXSUR’s NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS guide for the federal distinctions.
Planning update: The former page’s six FY2024 Local JAG formula allocations were labeled as awards. An allocation is not proof of an award, so the outdated award-example table has been removed. Projected deadlines were also replaced with administrator notices and program pages.
Nebraska Procurement & Cybersecurity
Nebraska Drone and Surveillance Purchasing Rules
The purchaser, source of money and project contract determine which state and federal requirements apply.
Cleared drones from 2027
Section 73-1004(1) limits state agency drone acquisitions to devices cleared by NDOT Aeronautics.
To the extent practicable
Political subdivisions are directed toward the cleared list; state-funds restrictions need a separate check.
Foreign-adversary screen
Technology-related contracts have company and product-origin certification requirements; UAS are excluded from that definition.
ASDA and BJA terms
Federal UAS funding restrictions and express BJA purchase approval can add conditions.
Secure Drone Purchasing Act: Exact Scope
Section 73-1004: From January 1, 2027 a state agency may acquire only drones cleared by NDOT’s Division of Aeronautics. Political subdivisions are directed to buy cleared drones to the extent practicable. The section also bars state funds, from that date, for a purchase prohibited under § 73-1005; a purchase contract made in violation of § 73-1004 is void and unenforceable. The statute includes a conditional electric-supplier exemption.
These clauses have different scopes. A city or county should confirm any state funding and applicable local purchasing policy before choosing a model.
Use the Current NDOT List
Section 73-1005 directs NDOT Aeronautics to publish the List of Secure Drones Authorized for Purchase and update it at least every six months. The statute identifies Blue UAS clearance, FY2024 NDAA compliance and division security determinations among its listing pathways. Its security criteria address U.S. data housing, encryption, segmented networks, MFA, role-based access, hardware integrity, monitoring and annual independent audits.
Check the live NDOT download page for the exact model and vendor. NDOT says listing is not a product endorsement. Do not infer that any aircraft described as “Blue UAS” is already on Nebraska’s list.
Separate Surveillance Technology Contracts
The Foreign Adversary Contracting Prohibition Act, §§ 73-901–73-908, prohibits scrutinized companies from bidding on public-entity contracts for defined technology-related products or services and requires company, subcontractor and product-origin certifications. That definition includes information systems, surveillance, LiDAR and communications, but expressly excludes unmanned aerial systems. It covers political subdivisions as public entities and has a limited statutory exception.
Review the whole camera, networking, software and cloud supply chain. Apply the drone law separately to UAS; do not describe the foreign-adversary act as a blanket ban on all contracts with such companies.
NDOT Projects Have an Additional Rule
NDOT’s contractor notice extends its covered-foreign-UAS restriction to all NDOT state projects regardless of funding source for costs incurred after December 22, 2025. It instructs contractors not to procure, operate or maintain covered UAS on those projects. This is a project-specific NDOT instruction, not a statewide rule governing every locally funded flight.
For any transportation project, read the current contract and confirm aircraft, flight controller, camera and ground-station sourcing with NDOT before use.
Federal Funds, BJA Approval and Cyber Grants
OMB M-26-02 Appendix D applies the American Security Drone Act restriction, effective December 22, 2025, to federal award funds for procurement or operation of a FASC-prohibited UAS, subject to specified exemptions and waivers. BJA purchases require express prior approval, Blue UAS and Commerce screening, certifications and privacy, civil-liberties and cybersecurity procedures. Counter-UAS has a separate path.
Nebraska’s SLCGP is directed toward cyber risks to government information systems. It is not a general aircraft purchase program. Identify cybersecurity outcomes and secure written allowability confirmation before budgeting connected surveillance equipment under it.
Practical Nebraska UAS Procurement Checklist
- 1Define the buyer and funding. Identify state-agency, political-subdivision, tribal, NDOT-project and federal-award roles; map every purchase and operating cost.
- 2Check NDOT’s live state list. Verify the exact model and vendor on the List of Secure Drones Authorized for Purchase before a state-agency acquisition and retain a dated copy.
- 3Apply the local and state-funds language. Political subdivisions follow the cleared-list direction to the extent practicable; state funds and state agency purchases have the January 2027 provisions.
- 4Screen other surveillance technology. Obtain the foreign-adversary certifications required for covered technology-related purchases and separately review Section 889, FCC, TAA clauses and award rules where applicable.
- 5Document cybersecurity. Record aircraft, payload, controller, firmware, radios and cloud locations; assess encryption, segmentation, MFA, access logs, retention and vendor updates against state-list criteria.
- 6Check the project and grant. Review NDOT project restrictions, ASDA / OMB M-26-02 Appendix D and any grant-specific UAS condition; obtain BJA express approval when required.
- 7Preserve approval and flight records. Keep list verification, procurement certifications, vendor representations, grant approval, FAA permissions, mission logs and any applicable exception or waiver.
Federal framework: Read NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS Explained for the separate federal tests. Verify live lists and award terms for the exact product and funding source.
Funding Pathways
Nebraska Grant Opportunities
These are verified programs or published rounds, not blanket approvals for drone or surveillance purchases. Check the linked administrator before applying.
| Grant / Program | Level | Administrator | Project Fit | Status / Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BJA FY2026 Local JAG Formula | Federal direct | BJA | Eligible listed jurisdictions; justice projects and technology, subject to award terms | Open: Oct. 9 Grants.gov / Oct. 16 JustGrants |
| Supplemental FY2027 Office of Violence Prevention | State-administered | Nebraska Crime Commission | Eligible violence-prevention programs under the supplemental notice | Open: Oct. 5, 2026, 5 p.m. CDT |
| NDOT HSO In-Car Camera Mini-Grant | Federal pass-through | NDOT Highway Safety Office | Digital in-car cameras for Nebraska law enforcement; published 75% / $3,500 cap per unit | Apply before ordering; check funds with HSO |
| NDOT HSO Computer Equipment Mini-Grant | Federal pass-through | NDOT Highway Safety Office | Equipment to submit crash reports and citations electronically; published 75% / $15,000 cap | Apply before ordering; check funds with HSO |
| NDOT HSO PBT Mini-Grant | Federal pass-through | NDOT Highway Safety Office | Preliminary breath testers for eligible law enforcement agencies | Apply before ordering; check funds with HSO |
| NDOT HSO Radar Mini-Grant | Federal pass-through | NDOT Highway Safety Office | Radar units for law enforcement in priority counties | Apply before ordering; check funds with HSO |
| NDOT HSO Selective Overtime Mini-Grant | Federal pass-through | NDOT Highway Safety Office | Traffic enforcement overtime in priority counties and named emphasis areas | Submit at least 30 days before activity |
| NDOT HSO Training / Workshop Mini-Grant | Federal pass-through | NDOT Highway Safety Office | Traffic safety training and conference travel for eligible priority-county agencies | Check HSO availability and approval |
| NDOT HSO FY2027 Project Grant | Federal pass-through | NDOT Highway Safety Office | Crash and injury reduction, with priority counties and topic areas | FY2027 round closed Mar. 31, 2026 |
| Nebraska Byrne JAG State-Administered | Federal pass-through | Nebraska Crime Commission | Justice projects under the current state solicitation | FY2026 round closed Feb. 3, 2025; next notice pending |
| Nebraska JAG Technology Grant | Federal pass-through | Nebraska Crime Commission | Justice technology as defined by the separate state RFA | SFY2026 round closed Oct. 14, 2025 |
| Nebraska FY2027 RSAT | Federal pass-through | Nebraska Crime Commission | Residential substance-abuse treatment for state prisoners | FY2027 round closed Apr. 13, 2026 |
| Nebraska FY2027 Title II and Prevention | Federal pass-through | Nebraska Crime Commission | Delinquency prevention, positive youth development and specified status-offender work | FY2027 round closed Apr. 28, 2026 |
| Nebraska FY2027 STOP VAWA | Federal pass-through | Nebraska Crime Commission | Eligible coordinated victim-services and criminal-justice response | FY2027 round closed May 5, 2026 |
| Nebraska FY2027 VOCA / Victim Assistance | Federal pass-through | Nebraska Crime Commission | Eligible victim assistance services | FY2027 round closed Apr. 13, 2026 |
| Nebraska State Homeland Security Program | Federal pass-through | NEMA / FEMA | Risk-driven preparedness and terrorism prevention under state strategy | NEMA distributes state and local instructions; check next round |
| Nebraska Emergency Management Performance Grant | Federal pass-through | NEMA / FEMA | Emergency management capacity, preparedness and core capabilities | NEMA administers; check next round |
| Nebraska Nonprofit Security Grant | Federal pass-through | NEMA / FEMA | Target hardening for eligible nonprofits at risk of terrorist attack | NEMA administers; check next round |
| Nebraska State and Local Cybersecurity Grant | Federal pass-through | NEMA / FEMA-CISA | Local and tribal cyber risk, planning and information-system protection | Posted page links older FY2022–FY2024 NOFOs; check next round |
| FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant | Federal direct | FEMA | Eligible fire and EMS equipment and training under federal notice | Check next federal notice |
Near-term notices: Direct FY2026 Local JAG lists an October 9 Grants.gov deadline and an October 16 JustGrants deadline. The Crime Commission’s supplemental FY2027 Office of Violence Prevention notice closes October 5, 2026 at 5 p.m. CDT. These deadlines and eligibilities differ. NDOT HSO requires mini-grant approval before any equipment is ordered or purchased.
Grant Planning
Connect the Nebraska Mission to the Right Program
Build the project around a published purpose and approval process.
Justice and Violence Prevention
BJA’s direct Local JAG program serves jurisdictions listed in its formula allocation. Nebraska Crime Commission JAG and its separate technology round follow state notices. The currently open supplemental OVP round has a violence-prevention purpose, not a general UAS equipment authorization.
Transportation and Evidence
NDOT HSO publishes explicit mini-grants for in-car cameras, crash-report computer equipment, PBTs, radar, traffic overtime and training. The FY2027 project-grant round closed March 31, 2026. HSO project grants also cite NHTSA Buy America requirements and a manufactured-product waiver threshold; confirm current award terms before ordering.
Preparedness and Cybersecurity
NEMA administers SHSP, EMPG and NSGP in Nebraska. SLCGP’s published page addresses information-system risk and subrecipient eligibility, with posted NOFOs through FY2024. Check for a new application round and ask the administrator to approve any equipment line item.
Use the Crime Commission announcements, NEMA preparedness grants, HSO mini-grant terms and Nebraska SLCGP information for current instructions. Nebraska’s state fiscal year is July 1 through June 30; federal periods and program cycles vary.
Nebraska UAS Procurement FAQ
Common Nebraska Compliance Questions
Confirm the purchasing entity, current NDOT list, funding and project instructions for each proposed purchase.
What changes for Nebraska state agencies in 2027?
Beginning January 1, 2027, a state agency may acquire only a drone cleared by the NDOT Aeronautics Division under section 73-1005. The statute also bars state funds for a drone whose purchase would be prohibited and makes a contract in violation of section 73-1004 void and unenforceable.
Does that exact rule apply to a county sheriff or city police department?
Section 73-1004 directs political subdivisions to buy cleared drones to the extent practicable. The state-funds provision still matters when state money pays for the purchase. Confirm local policies, funding restrictions and the specific model with procurement counsel.
Does a Blue UAS listing automatically satisfy Nebraska law?
Section 73-1005 lists Blue UAS clearance as one pathway the Aeronautics Division considers. For Nebraska purchases, verify the model and vendor on NDOT’s current List of Secure Drones Authorized for Purchase; a general Blue UAS claim does not replace checking the state list.
Does the Foreign Adversary Contracting Prohibition Act cover drones?
The act restricts scrutinized-company contracts for technology-related products or services such as surveillance, communications, information systems and LiDAR, and requires certifications. Section 73-903 expressly excludes unmanned aerial systems from that defined category. Assess drones under the separate Secure Drone Purchasing Act and any award or purchaser rules.
Can an older aircraft be used on an NDOT project?
NDOT’s contractor notice applies its covered-UAS project restriction to all NDOT state projects, regardless of funding source, for costs after December 22, 2025. Review the actual project contract and NDOT instructions before operating, maintaining or charging covered equipment to a project.
Can a Nebraska grant pay for a drone?
Only if the program notice and administrator permit that use. Federal awards have the ASDA restriction on FASC-prohibited UAS procurement and operation, subject to stated exemptions and waivers. BJA additionally requires express prior approval and certifications for UAS purchases under its awards.
Can SLCGP fund aircraft?
Nebraska describes SLCGP as protecting data, networks and information systems and lists eligible expenditure categories. It should be scoped to an actual cybersecurity outcome; obtain the administrator’s written confirmation before including a drone or surveillance hardware purchase.
MAXSUR Solution Pathways
Connect Nebraska Funding to Field Capability
Match equipment and cybersecurity controls to the eligible mission and approved budget.
Procurement Pathway
Move From Grant Approval to a Documented Purchase
Confirm the NDOT list, purchaser policy, state funding, federal award conditions and any BJA or NDOT project approvals before ordering.
Cooperative purchasing does not waive grant allowability or agency procurement rules. Confirm the purchase method and model with the administrator and procurement office.