508_FY 2024 CDLPI Funding Conference QAs_Final.pdf

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) Funding Conference Q&As

The following questions were submitted to FMCSA by attendees of CDLPI Grant Funding Conference on March 14, 2024.

The purpose of the funding conference was to:

• Provide an overview of the CDLPI grant program;

• Remind participants about Title VI Compliance Program requirements;

• Outline important information from the FY 2024 CDLPI Notice of Funding

Opportunity (NOFO);

• Announce the web-based Project Plan and Budget Narrative Template available for all interested applicants;

• Review an example on the structure of a CDLPI performance-based application;

• Supply participants with available resources and contact information; and

• Answer any outstanding questions.

During the funding conference, FMCSA answered several questions. Below are the answers that were provided during the funding conference. There were also questions we did not have the opportunity to answer during the conference, those questions are below as well.

Topic 2: Title VI Compliance Program Information

1. How long are Title VI forms valid?

Title VI forms are valid for only one year and must be updated annually.

2. Regarding Title VI Assurance and Compliance requirements, does this need to be sent for approval before submission on Grants.gov?

Yes, applicants must submit an Assurance and Compliance Plan to FMCSATitleVI@dot.gov. The Title VI requirement’s plan must be approved before FMCSA awards a grant.

Topic 3: Priorities of the FY 2024 NOFO mailto:FMCSATitleVI@dot.gov https://www.grants.gov/

1. Does the CDL Grant program support an entry level driver to get a CDL license?

No. Individuals are NOT eligible to apply under the CDLPI Grant Program.

FMCSA does not have any available grants for individuals. Please review Grants.gov for grant opportunities for individuals. Some truck driver schools offer financial assistance. If the truck driver school is affiliated with a technical college or university, you may be eligible for financial aid through the U.S. Department of Education (more information on student loans can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov). If you own a small business you may be able to receive financial assistance from the Small Business Administration (more information can be found at www.sba.gov). If you served in the military, you may also be eligible for financial assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs (more information on this can be found at www.va.gov). Consider consulting with your local unemployment office to determine if it provides financial assistance for employment placement training (which may include truck driver training). Some truck companies (motor carriers) offer training and coaching for new drivers as part of employment. While this is usually limited to larger trucking companies, there may be some in your area that offer the same type of incentive. Additionally, FMCSA has a grant program that is for training provider and school to train certain individuals to obtain an CDL. Please refer to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information.

2. What is standard award amount and what should be our target?

There is no standard award amount for the CDLPI grant program. Additionally, this year there are no match requirements which means there will be one hundred percent Federal funding for awarded applications (Section C 2). Your estimated target should align to your overall budget. As a part of an application’s review, FMCSA will check to see if the proposed budget is reasonable, necessary, and allocable (Section E).

3. How does the Period of Performance (PoP) work with warranties? If we are awarded and purchase IT equipment using grant funding, and the equipment comes with a warranty that is for a period of four years, with an option to purchase a fifth year, can we purchase that fifth year with grant funding or would that exceed the period performance date?

Warranties may be considered eligible expenses and applicants can apply for warranties in subsequent applications if the current award period of performance does not cover it.

4. For institutions of higher education, would you consider a simulator purchase for the CDL training program an eligible project for this funding source?

In order to make an eligibility determination, additional information would be required https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa http://www.sba.gov/ http://www.va.gov/ to assess if the expenses are allocable, reasonable and necessary for the project purpose, and supports the CDLPI grant program purpose.

5. Can funds be used for ticket review and remote infraction hearings involving CDL licensed drivers. If so, is this within the Basic or High Priority category and which priority area?

In order to make an eligibility determination, additional information would be required to assess if the expenses are allocable, reasonable and necessary for the project purpose, and supports the CDLPI grant program purpose. Please review the priorities in the NOFO Section A. 4 for the priorities of the CDLPI grant program. The only entity that would be able to put in an application under the basic priority category would be a State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA).

6. Does this grant cover CDL Schools?

No. For CDL schools or training providers that would like to train and educate individuals to become CDL holders, please review the NOFO for the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training grant program.

7. Has the Lobbying Form issues in Grants.gov been resolved, specifically adding a way to designate whether this form was applicable or not?

Yes. This issue has been resolved, and applicants only need to complete the Lobbying Form when applicable.

8. Can SDLAs apply for both Basic and High Priority emerging projects in one grant?

Yes.

9. Can SDLAs be the lead applicant and propose a project for a non-SDLA entity such as a court, law enforcement, or prosecution office?

Yes. If an SDLA would like to be the lead and create a working group that has stakeholders from other entities, this is acceptable. Please review Section A. 4 of the NOFO for the priorities of the CDLPI grant program.

10. Can I apply for a project that will be sub-awarded.

Yes. You may apply for a project that is sub-awarded. Contracted work is an eligible budget category. Please review Section A. 4 of the NOFO for the priorities of the CDLPI grant program and Appendix B of the NOFO for Budget Narrative Guidance.

Topic 4: CDLPI Project Plan and Budget Narrative Template

1. Where can I find assistance with FMCSA’s application template?

A training session on how to use FMCSA’s project plan and budget narrative template was hosted on March 19, 2024. A link to the recorded webinar can be found on grants.gov.

https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/352747 https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/Grants/CMVOST.aspx https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/Grants/CMVOST.aspx

Additionally, FMCSA has hosted a number of grant-related webinars to provide potential applicants with the steps necessary to apply, and the knowledge to select the appropriate FMCSA grant program to support your project’s goal(s):

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/grantswebinars.

When submitting your application on grants.gov, be sure to include all required documents explained in Section D of the NOFO.

2. If an SDLA decides to register for the project narrative and template webinar and use it, do I still have to submit those with the application on Grants.gov?

Yes, once you’ve created your project plan(s) and budget narrative(s) you will need to export the documents and upload them into grants.gov. Be sure to include the other required documents in your application in grants.gov. Please refer to Section D of the NOFO.

A training session on how to use FMCSA’s project plan and budget narrative web-based template was hosted on March 19, 2024. A link to the recorded webinar can be found on grants.gov.

Topic 5: Performance Based Application Structure

1. What is considered a project versus an activity?

A project consists of one or more priorities achieving an overarching goal and must contain a distinct title, separate/distinct project narratives, and separate/distinct budget narratives and line-item budgets (applications with multiple budgets must include a comprehensive budget). For each project, you will list objectives to accomplish that goal. Under each objective, you must list activities that facilitate meeting your goal(s).

2. Would accomplishing compliance for two distinct different rulemakings be considered as two projects because they would have two distinctly different budgets?

It would be one project. As shown in the presentation, project one would be achieving compliance with upcoming rulemakings and the objectives under that project would be broken into the rulemaking(s) the State is working on. Each objective would need its own budget narrative.

Topic 6: Available Resources and Outstanding Questions

1. Will technical assistance webinar presentations be available to view?

Yes. A recording of the CDLPI webinars will be posted to Grants.gov along with a PDF version of the slides and Q&A document. These resources will also be available https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/grantswebinars https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ on our A&I webpage.

2. Is there anyone who can help me with creating the application?

Applicants can search “grant writing help” in their internet browser to get help on writing grant applications. FMCSA cannot help to write applications. FMCSA encourages applicants to review Section D of the NOFO for application and submission information.

3. How much notice is typically given to applicants to gather the necessary data for potential projects?

FMCSA allows applicants 45-60 days to submit an application once the NOFO is posted.

4. Is there training for navigating the Delphi system?

More information and training can be found in the Grant Training section of the Delphi eInvoicing System.

5. Will I receive the technical scoring of my submissions if it is rejected?

FMCSA will contact you if your application is rejected and provide an explanation on why it was rejected.

6. Can an awardee seek additional grant funding sources from other agencies/sources?

FMCSA does not have a restriction in seeking additional funding from different agencies or grants as long as the projects are not duplicative in scope and work.

https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/Grants/CDLPI.aspx https://einvoice.esc.gov/grantee.html