How Law Enforcement Agencies Can Find and Apply for Grants to Fund Narcotics Identification Equipment
With the growing complexity of the narcotics trade and the rise in synthetic drugs and adulterants, frontline law enforcement needs fast, reliable, and accurate tools to identify substances in the field. But cutting-edge technology often comes at a high cost. The good news? Federal, state, and local grants can help cover those costs—allowing your department to acquire vital tools like the NIRLAB Narcotics handheld analyzer.
Here’s a guide on how to find and apply for those grants, and how to present tools like NIRLAB in your proposal.
Here’s a guide on how to find and apply for those grants, and how to present tools like NIRLAB in your proposal.
Why Grants Matter for Narcotics Detection Tool
Grants allow agencies to invest in technology that would otherwise be out of reach. With tools like NIRLAB Narcotics, officers get:
Developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, Criminal Justice, and Public Administration at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, NIRLAB Narcotics is already being used across the world.
- Instant field identification and quantification of over 300 substances, including illicit drugs, cutting agents, and precursors.
- Lab-grade results in 5 seconds—no sample prep required.
- Point-and-click usability with no heat, reducing evidence degradation risk.
- No false positives—making it significantly more accurate than traditional colorimetric tests.
- Geotagged, cloud-based data collection that helps identify regional drug trends and supports resource deployment.
Developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, Criminal Justice, and Public Administration at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, NIRLAB Narcotics is already being used across the world.
Step-by-Step: How to Find and Apply for Grant
Step 1: Define Your Need
Clearly state what you’re trying to solve:
Tie this to how the NIRLAB device helps. For example: “Our agency is seeking a portable tool that can safely and rapidly identify narcotics and precursors without requiring officers to open bags or handle hazardous substances.”
- Are overdose rates rising?
- Are you seeing more synthetic drugs or pill press activity?
- Do you need safer, non-invasive field testing?
- Do you need fast, accurate results with no false positives?
Tie this to how the NIRLAB device helps. For example: “Our agency is seeking a portable tool that can safely and rapidly identify narcotics and precursors without requiring officers to open bags or handle hazardous substances.”
Step 2: Identify Relevant Grants
Here are key programs to target:
Pro Tip: Contact your State Administering Agency (SAA) to ask about state-level programs and matching opportunities.
- Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
Ideal for equipment funding. NIRLAB’s fast field testing fits well under “technology and equipment improvements.” - Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP)
Emphasizes real-time solutions to substance abuse. NIRLAB’s ability to quantify and track drug trends through geotagged scans is a perfect match. - Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
Allows for narcotics interdiction equipment purchases in support of broader security goals. - High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA)
Especially useful if your jurisdiction is in a HIDTA-designated region.
Pro Tip: Contact your State Administering Agency (SAA) to ask about state-level programs and matching opportunities.
Step 3: Strengthen Your Application
When writing your proposal:
Problem Statement:
Use local stats—overdoses, arrest trends, or challenges with current testing methods.
Project Goals:
Describe how NIRLAB will:
Budget Justification:
Emphasize NIRLAB’s lower cost compared to other devices and its multifunctional use: narcotics, marijuana profiling, even some explosives detection.
Partnership Potential:
Highlight how your agency could share NIRLAB with neighboring jurisdictions or task forces, maximizing the grant’s impact.
Problem Statement:
Use local stats—overdoses, arrest trends, or challenges with current testing methods.
Project Goals:
Describe how NIRLAB will:
- Speed up field identification
- Reduce officer exposure to hazardous substances
- Improve casework with geotagged, PDF-exportable scan results
Budget Justification:
Emphasize NIRLAB’s lower cost compared to other devices and its multifunctional use: narcotics, marijuana profiling, even some explosives detection.
Partnership Potential:
Highlight how your agency could share NIRLAB with neighboring jurisdictions or task forces, maximizing the grant’s impact.
Step 4: Don’t Go It Alone
Step 4: Don’t Go It Alone
Tap into:
Tap into:
- Grants.gov for federal listings
- State Criminal Justice Agencies for local deadlines
- Your regional HIDTA or law enforcement associations for support or joint applications
- Opioid Settlement Grant Tracker: to identify state-specific grants
Final Thoughts
Securing grants to purchase advanced tools like NIRLAB Narcotics is not just about funding—it’s about increasing officer safety, improving efficiency, and better serving your community. With cloud-integrated data collection, instant drug quantification, and unmatched accuracy, NIRLAB represents the next evolution in field narcotics detection.
If your agency is ready to make the leap, now is the time to act—these grants are competitive, and deadlines come fast. Start planning today, and bring lab-grade precision to the street.
If your agency is ready to make the leap, now is the time to act—these grants are competitive, and deadlines come fast. Start planning today, and bring lab-grade precision to the street.
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