CDLPI FY 2022 NOFO.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary Information

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Grants Management Office (GMO); MC-BG 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE West Building Washington, DC 20590

Funding Opportunity Title: Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number:

FM-CDL-22-001

Assistance Listing Number:

20.232

Key Date – Application Due Date:

February 28, 2022

5:00 p. m. EST

Points of Contact: Financial application concerns:

Montika Brooks

(202) 366-8980 montika.brooks@dot.gov

Programmatic application concerns:

Wendy Cunningham

(360) 481-4485 wendy.cunningham@dot.gov

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview and Authorizing Statutes and Regulations

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation (CDLPI) financial assistance program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications from State and local governments and other eligible persons and organizations that support CDLPI activities.

The program is authorized under 49 U.S.C.§ 31313, as modified by Section 23001(b) of Public Law 117-58 (2021), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Final funding amounts are subject to the availability of funding appropriated by Congress.

2. CDLPI Goals and Objectives

Relevant Assistance Listing is 20.232.

FMCSA’s mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. In support of this mission, FMCSA partners with commercial driver’s license (CDL) stakeholders including, but not limited to, State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs), commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and employers, the U.S. Armed Forces, State court officers, non-profit associations, and multi-State partnerships.

The CDLPI program objective is to provide financial assistance to States and other eligible entities to improve the national CDL program. The national CDL program focuses on the concept that each driver has only one driving record and only one licensing document, commonly referred to as "One Driver — One License — One Record." Further, the national CDL program requires States to conduct knowledge and skills testing before issuing a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) and/or CDL; to maintain a complete and accurate driver history record for anyone who obtains a CLP and/or CDL; and to impose driver disqualifications, as appropriate.

FMCSA provides financial assistance under the CDLPI financial assistance program to States to achieve compliance with statutory requirements and FMCSA regulations concerning driver's license standards and programs, namely 49 U.S.C. § 31311(a) and 49 CFR parts 383 and 384. In addition, FMCSA provides financial assistance to other entities capable of executing national projects that aid States in their compliance efforts and that will improve the success and consistency of the national CDL Program.

CDLPI financial assistance awards are in alignment with the following U.S. Department of Transportation’s strategic goals:

Safety: Make our transportation system safer for all people. Work toward a future where transportation-related serious injuries and fatalities are eliminated and public health improved.

Economic Strength & Modernization: Grow an inclusive and sustainable economy.

Invest in our transportation system to provide American workers and businesses reliable and efficient access to jobs, resources, and markets.

Equity: Address inequities. Support and engage people and communities to promote safe, affordable, accessible, and multimodal access to opportunities and services while reducing transportation-related disparities and burden in the built environment.

Climate & Sustainability: Tackle the climate crisis. Substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transportation-related pollution and build more resilient and sustainable transportation systems to benefit and protect communities.

Transformation: Design for the future. Invest in purpose-driven research and innovation to meet the challenge of the present and foster a future transportation system that serves everyone.

All applicants, where appropriate, should demonstrate how proposed projects address the objectives of climate change/sustainability outlined in Executive Order 14008 and support/advance equity in transportation, particularly in underserved communities, as outlined in Executive Order 13985.

This NOFO provides important information about the FY 2022 CDLPI program priorities and guidance for preparing and submitting a grant application. The FMCSA will award grants under this announcement in two categories: the CDLPI Basic Grants and CDLPI High Priority/Emerging Issues Grants.

3. CDLPI Award Performance Goals

Applicants should include performance goals related to the national priorities under subsection 4, that demonstrate improvement or sustained compliance with U.S.C. § 31311 and 49 CFR parts 383 and 384.

i. Data Sources

FMCSA will evaluate a CDLPI grant application’s performance goals by examining data available in the State Compliance Records Enterprise System (SCORE), Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) reports, driver history reports, and any other data source(s) used and reported by the applicant, comparing the results from the program with the baseline data provided in the application and available reports.

ii. Performance Indicators

FMCSA will assess to what extent a CDLPI grant meets its performance goals outlined in the application by assessing its performance indicators.

In general, activities must be tied to 49 CFR parts 383 and 384. Performance indicators for successful CDLPI grant award projects may include, but are not limited to:

a. Overall Compliance: Activities implemented under this award that address a

State’s sustained compliance with the Federal CDL regulations.

b. Issuance of CDL/CLPs: Activities conducted under the CDLPI award to issue CLPs and CDLs, upgrade/change endorsements, or conduct a change state of record to only qualified drivers while instituting policies and procedures to prevent fraudulent activities.

c. Timeliness: Activities conducted under the CDLPI award to issue disqualifications, suspensions, and downgrades in a timely manner, which will allow unsafe drivers to be removed from service.

d. Data Quality: Activities conducted under the award that address a State’s accuracy and completeness of driver history records.

e. Innovative Approach: CDLPI grant award activities that provide a novel technique or approach (program design, use of technology assets, etc.) to benefit national CDL safety and/or improve CDL safety data quality.

4. National CDLPI Priority Descriptions

CDLPI financial assistance funds are awarded through a competitive grant process and no assurance of funding is implied, nor should it be inferred.

All applications must advance a public purpose. FMCSA may not award grant funding to individuals for personal gain, such as obtaining the specialized training required for CDL licensing or procuring a commercial motor vehicle. The FMCSA will not award grant funding to a for-profit business that does not improve the national CDL Program and compliance with 49 CFR parts 383 and 384. The FMCSA is prohibited under 49 U.S.C. § 31313(b) from providing grant funds for the purchase, rent, or lease of land or buildings.

Unless indicated otherwise, references to the CDLPI grant program priorities include both Basic and High Priority/Emerging Issues activities/projects, with details for each type of CDLPI grant priority focus areas explained later in this section. All activities are eligible for 100 percent Federal funding, and all applicants must provide performance data benchmarks and goals along with data sources and specific 49 CFR data citations.

CDLPI Basic Projects are only applicable to State agencies. Applications should support the development, implementation, and maintenance associated with the CDL program that have a direct impact on a State’s compliance with provisions in 49 CFR parts 383 and 384.

CDLPI High Priority/Emerging Issues Projects may be implemented by States, local governments, and other entities capable of executing national projects that aid States in their compliance efforts and improving the national CDL Program.

1.CDLPI Basic

a. General

Proposed projects must support the development, implementation, and maintenance and operations of the CDL program. It is recommended that project plans that substantially benefit populations of the State’s drivers, other than its CLP and CDL holders, include a cost allocation requesting funding in proportion to the benefit received by the State’s CLP and CDL holders.

The CDLPI grant program is not intended to supplement ongoing operational costs of State CDL programs. Its primary purpose is to assist States in achieving and sustaining compliance with the provisions of 49 CFR parts 383 and 384. For this reason, funding for annually recurring State administrative costs receives a lower priority than funding associated with compliance issues or innovative CDL program improvements.

b. CDLPI Basic Grants

FMCSA will reimburse 100 percent of total project costs supporting the implementation of CDL-related regulations and/or activities that directly impact a State's compliance with the CDL program. Applicants must provide, for each priority, the 49 CFR section citation that supports the project’s compliance initiative(s); baseline data; projected outputs and outcomes; and source of data.

Eligible applications under this category include but are not limited to:

1. Applications for projects to achieve or maintain compliance with FMCSA’s

CDL rulemakings, such as Lifetime Disqualification for Human Trafficking, Entry Level Driver Training, Exclusive Electronic Exchange, Controlled Substances and Alcohol Testing: State Driver's Licensing Agency Non- Issuance/Downgrade of Commercial Driver's License, and Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Final Rule.

2. Applications that support a State’s correction and mitigation of its CDL regulatory compliance findings. The project plan must address the finding(s), include the 49 CFR citation, and identify the data source.

3. Applications that support a State in improving the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of CDLIS-required data elements to maintain the highest possible quality of all CDL data, to include correcting broken and missing CDLIS pointers, submitting all convictions as required by § 384.209 within 10 days, and correcting CDLIS transaction errors timely.

4. Applications that support an SDLA’s partnership efforts that lead to enhancing SDLA compliance with 49 CFR parts 383 and 384. FMCSA will give priority to proposals for multi-jurisdictional partnerships or collaboration with other entities. The project activities may include partnerships among SDLAs, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and/or court clerks within the same State to increase outreach to courts on CDL disqualifications and/or masking and diversion; partnerships among SDLAs that deliver cross-functional workshops that include courts, law enforcement and other interested stakeholders; and facial imaging partnerships across multiple jurisdictions to combat CDL/CLP fraud.

5. Applications to support an SDLA’s operation and maintenance (O&M) projects. The project activities may include recurrent examiner training beyond the regulatory requirements; kiosk and tablet operation and maintenance and licensing agreements; skills testing site improvements; annual software licensing and IT maintenance agreements; and reproducing CDL Driver and Examiner Manuals. However, O&M projects will receive lowest funding priority.

2. CDLPI High Priority/Emerging Issues Cooperative Agreements and Grants

a. General

States, local governments, and other entities capable of executing national projects that aid SDLAs in their compliance efforts and improve the national CDL program are eligible to apply for the priorities listed below. See section C.1.ii.

b. CDLPI High Priority/Emerging Issues Cooperative Agreements and Grants

FMCSA will reimburse 100% of the total project costs supporting project activities directly connected to regulatory compliance (must provide the specific regulatory references) that will improve SDLA compliance with 49 CFR parts 383 and 384. Eligible applications under this category include but are not limited to:

1. Applications that support reducing CDL skills testing delays and wait times.

2. Applications that will benefit the Department’s trucking action plan/supply chain initiatives to increase the number of CDL holders that are available to operate commercial motor vehicles.

3. Applications that support activities related to human trafficking outreach projects with the main purpose of educating CDL drivers and that do not duplicate the purpose of other Federal funding source(s).

4. Applications for projects to conduct a systematic review of a State’s CDL program with recommended improvement actions to enable the State to support its Annual State Certification of Compliance as required by 49 CFR § 384.305. Such projects are intended to strengthen compliance with 49 CFR parts 383 and 384 by analyzing the State’s performance in one or more of the following three major review areas: Operational, Data Reconciliation, and Legal Sufficiency by either internal State auditors or through a sub-award or contract to an entity that has demonstrated its knowledge, skills and abilities to evaluate an SDLA’s compliance with Federal regulations. Further details below:

Operational Review may include evaluating the SDLA’s process workflows for: licensure, convictions and withdrawals, electronic and other processing actions; CDLIS helpdesk or equivalent and fraud detection; and processing communications between the judiciary and SDLAs.

Data Reconciliation Review may include a detailed review of the data processing capabilities to confirm that every conviction has been accounted for in the driver history record, and that proper disqualification has been applied.

Legal Sufficiency Review analyzes a State’s legal authority to implement 49 CFR parts 383 and 384.

If the SDLA is not the applicant, the project plan must demonstrate that a State or multiple States have committed to be subject to an evaluation by the applicant.

5. Applications that will benefit the national CDL Program by improving compliance through the use of proven tools or developing new tools that can be utilized by SDLAs and other partners. Such project activities may include developing electronic tools to enable SDLAs to comply with the Exclusive Electronic Exchange of convictions and withdrawals, training on CDL-specific regulatory requirements, improving the timeliness, accuracy, completeness of CDL data exchanges between the courts and SDLAs, and reporting all felony human trafficking convictions to SDLAs involving CDL holders.

6. Applications for enhancing court expertise. Such eligible projects will enhance the expertise of court officers in prosecuting, adjudicating, and transmitting CDL violations. Project activities may include providing training on the prevention of masking CDL-related offenses and ensuring that felony convictions for CDL/CLP holders are provided to the SDLAs for proper adjudication.

7. Applications that facilitate the detection and prevention of fraud in the CDL process. Project activities may include training and initiating technology or other innovative approaches in the following areas: issuing licenses and permits, testing, recordkeeping, and data reporting.

8. Applications that support hosting meetings and conferences to address CDL compliance issues among the SDLAs and other stakeholders. The application must include the following elements to be considered: 1) a detailed budget; 2) a timeline for completion of the plan’s components; 3) a detailed plan for execution including: a) tentative agenda that is collaborative with entities engaged in CDL compliance issues; b) onsite support during the meeting; and

c) assistance with attendees’ hotel and airfare to ensure reasonable and necessary expenses are adhered to; and 4) provide a post-meeting final report to include a) an overview of all presentations with session minutes; b) a list of attendees with accounting of all expenses; and c) attendee feedback on sessions.

9. Applications that support activities that implement or maintain an employer notification system (ENS) with potential benefit to the national CDL Program.

10. Applications that support an SDLA’s review and evaluation of the access to

CDL services in underserved communities, including affordability of CDL licensing fees, accessibility to provide CDL medical certifications to SDLA, availability of SDLA credential issuance and renewal services, CDL testing, including knowledge and skills testing, and access to equitable adjudication of administrative complaints. The review and evaluation may include an analysis of hours of operations for CDL services, locations, and appointment scheduling systems (computer vs. phone vs. in-person).

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Funding and Number of Awards

The FMCSA anticipates making approximately 50 awards in response to this NOFO.

The FMCSA reserves the right to allocate additional funds for awards based upon the volume and quality of applications.

Note: Applicants for CDLPI funding must not include more than four (4) projects per application. FMCSA will not review or consider any projects beyond the maximum four projects per application.

2. Type of Award

Awards under this NOFO will be issued as a grant or cooperative agreement. The FMCSA will determine the appropriate award type based on the proposed project and the degree of Federal involvement.

This funding opportunity is for new FMCSA awards only. Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing awards are not eligible.

3. Period of Performance

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 31104(f)(5), awarded funding is available for the fiscal year of award and the four succeeding years, but may be awarded for a shorter period.

The period of performance for CDLPI grants will be the date range designated in Block 4 of the Notice of Grant Award. NOTE: When requesting a period of performance on the SF-424 application form, applicants should carefully consider how long it will take to complete the grant’s activities and objectives. The start date should be no later than the last day of the current fiscal year, September 30, 2022.

4. Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Program Assurance and Plan Title VI

Assessments

The FMCSA Title VI Program Grant requirements consist of a Title VI Program Compliance Plan, which includes a CEO-signed/dated Title VI Program Assurance. The Title VI Program Assurance commits the grant applicant to complying with Title VI and related nondiscrimination authorities to ensure that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of, race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, low income, or Limited English Proficiency be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the applicant receives Federal financial assistance from FMCSA. Prior to the Grant Program application submission deadline, the Applicant will complete these items:

Title VI Program Assurance: The Applicant will fill in where prompted the name of the Applicant’s organization on pages #1-4 of the document and the

Applicant’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will sign and date page #4 of the document. The Assurance will then be inserted as section two of the Plan or may be referenced in section two of the Plan and attached at the end of the Plan;

Title VI Program Compliance Plan Checklist: The Applicant will use the Checklist as the format for the draft Plan. If the Applicant has a Plan that was developed using the Checklist and previously approved by FMCSA, the Applicant will update the Plan by having the Applicant’s CEO re-sign/re-date the Policy Statement and Assurance and will update the remainder of the Plan by providing the status on any sections under development and/or any procedural changes. The Applicant will submit the draft/revised draft Plan to the FMCSA Office of Civil Rights (OCR) for review, comments as appropriate, and approval.

To begin this coordination, please contact Mr. Lester Finkle, FMCSA National Title VI Program Manager, at lester.finkle@dot.gov.

A Title VI Program Assurance template and Plan Checklist is available in Grants. gov under the “Related Documents” tab.

Please do not upload the Title VI Plan with the application. The Plan must be submitted directly to Lester Finkle (Lester.Finkle@dot.gov) by the application due date.

5. Degree of Federal Involvement

i. Cooperative Agreement

In accordance with 31 U.S.C.§ 6305, FMCSA will award a cooperative agreement when substantial involvement of FMCSA in carrying out the activity is anticipated .

The FMCSA will outline the substantial involvement at the time of award in the notice of award (e.g., the degree to which FMCSA employees are directing the performance or implementation of the award program).

In general, substantial involvement includes, but is not limited to:

a. Agency review and approval of one stage before work can begin on a subsequent stage of project objectives and/or activities;

b. Agency coordination and collaboration due to interrelationship with other award projects;

c. Collaboration or joint development and prior approval of education materials, reports, etc., as listed in the original application and part of an approved project;

and

d. FMCSA involvement in outreach and other activities relating to the publication of materials.

Under a cooperative agreement, FMCSA agrees to assign professionally qualified staff to serve as liaisons between the recipient and FMCSA when event coordination is needed; provide technical assistance to the recipient; assist with the exchange of ideas and information as necessary and permissible; and carry out other actions relating to the monitoring of performance activities under this award.

The recipient also agrees to designate a project manager or key point of contact to work with FMCSA and act as a liaison between the awardee and the Federal Government.

The FMCSA will further outline the nature of Federal involvement at the time of award and include additional details, as relevant, in the award documentation.

ii. Grant

Substantial involvement is not expected between FMCSA and the recipient when carrying out the activity outlined in the agreement. The FMCSA provides financial assistance, technical assistance, and oversight. Recipients provide the effort and expertise necessary to carry out the approved activities. Recipients are responsible for achieving the work described in their grant award, complying with the grant requirements laid out in the grant award and Terms and Conditions, the administration of the grant, and monitoring and oversight of any sub-recipients or sub-contractors.

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

The following section includes the applicants eligible for award.

i. State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs)

To be eligible for a Basic CDLPI Category Grant, SDLAs must:

a. Assume responsibility for adopting and administering State safety laws and regulations that are compatible with the Federal CDL requirements of 49 CFR Parts 383 and 384;

b. Address outstanding findings discovered during Annual Program Reviews and Skills Testing Reviews in the self-assessment section of the application package;

and

c. Comply with or be making a good faith effort toward substantial compliance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. § 31311.

ii. Other State Agencies (not SDLAs)

Applications received from other State agencies will be considered under Basic or High Priority/Emerging Issues projects. These agencies include the State courts, law enforcement and departments of transportation, public, State, and private institutions of higher education.

iii. Non-State Organizations

Applications received from non-State organizations will be considered for High Priority/Emerging Issues funding. Non-State organizations eligible to apply include non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, Native American tribal organizations (federally recognized), for-profit, and local governmental agencies.

Applications must clearly describe the anticipated level and nature of FMCSA participation and the responsibilities of each partner to the agreement until the grant or cooperative agreement is closed.

FMCSA must approve the development and execution of training to the courts and law enforcement to ensure no duplication of efforts, since there are other entities that service or support similar objectives with the courts and law enforcement.

Applicants must consider FMCSA’s involvement in its grant applications. Also, FMCSA will ensure project activities should be dispersed and presented at locations or available to locations that will have the biggest benefit for the costs and resources available by region.

FMCSA must approve the development of resources, such as desk manuals, fact sheets, best practices, and webpages, that are to be used by other entities. This will ensure the content is coordinated, approved, and does not conflict with other guidance provided, or resources funded, by FMCSA.

Individuals are not eligible to apply or receive grant funds under the CDLPI grant program.

2. Cost-Sharing and Matching Requirements

FMCSA will not require a matching share for fiscal year 2022 awards.

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

Potential applicants may obtain all forms included in this Notice at www.grants.gov.

If you require paper copies of materials, you may request copies at:

Email: FMCSA_GrantMgmtHelpdesk@dot.gov

Telephone: (202) 366-0621 (Grant Management Help Desk)

Mail: U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Grants Management Office (MC-BG)

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, West Building

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

The application package must contain the elements listed below to be considered for an award.

i. Formatting

The application must follow the format and limitation stated below:

a. Application must be prepared on 8 1/2 x 11-inch format.

b. Margins (Top, Bottom, Right and Left) no smaller than 1” on all pages.

(Header and Footer are allowed in the margins).

c. Times New Roman 12 pt. font must be used for all text, including tables and graphs.

d. Applications must be submitted in a format readable by Microsoft (MS) Word, Excel, or in text-searchable PDF formats (as applicable).

e. The application narrative is limited to 35 (40 for SDLA applicants) total pages. FMCSA will not read or consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process. NOTE: The 35 or 40 total page limit is inclusive of the introduction, self-assessment, problem statement(s), performance objective(s), performance activity(s), performance measurement(s) plan, monitoring plan, and budget narrative. All other documents and forms described in Appendix A will not count against the application page limit.

f. The application package must contain the elements listed below and all documentation described in Appendix A to be considered for an award.

Appendix B contains examples for formatting purposes only, but those examples are not required to be used.

ii. Brief Introduction – 5-page maximum

Include a description of the goal(s)/purpose(s) for each application and reference the applicable program priority(ies) being met by the application’s project(s). The introduction must include the intended outcome(s) of the project. For each goal identified, the applicant must provide a problem statement, performance objective, performance activity plan, performance measurement plan, and budget narrative.

iii. For SDLA Applicants Only: CDL Program Self-Assessment (Program

Overview) – 5-page maximum

Applications from SDLAs must include a CDL program self-assessment, which may be included as part of the project’s program overview or project plan; a separate, stand-alone document is not required.

The Program Overview is a summary of key elements of the applicant’s program and must include the following six components:

a. A list of all open findings in the State Compliance Records Enterprise

(SCORE) System, including the finding’s citation and a brief description; the reason for the finding; the proposed resolution; and the expected date by which the finding will be closed.

b. A list of all open CDLPI grant awards, including the award number, award amount, and purpose; progress made to date in achieving the award’s objectives; remaining unexpended funding; the expected date of completion;

and how this application’s requested funding does not duplicate their costs or activities.

c. The total number of noncommercial licenses and the total number of CLPs and CDLs issued to date and annually, listed separately by type of CLP or

CDL.

d. The latest statistics concerning the status of missing and broken pointers, referencing the last run CD31 Report data.

e. The timeliness of transmitting and posting of convictions and withdrawals for CDL drivers, both out of State and in State, with data source and date referenced.

f. This requirement applies to SDLAs only. Applications that fail to include the required information will be considered incomplete and risk disqualification.

iv. Problem Statement – 5-page maximum

Provide a qualitative description of the identified problem that the project will address. Include details on the performance data used to identify the problem and to establish the baseline (include data source, date, and explain how the applicant collects, maintains, and analyzes the data). Data should support proposed project(s).

Examples of data sources:

State Compliance Records Enterprise (SCORE) system, CDLIS reports, enforcement and crash statistics data in A&I online, and internal reports that can be consistently generated for measuring the outputs and outcomes.

v. Performance Objective – 5-page maximum

Provide a description of the applicant’s anticipated quantifiable goal related to the above problem statement. This can be measured in numbers, percentages, or other forms that accurately measure the outputs and outcomes the applicant anticipates will result from implementing the strategies and activities proposed. Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.

vi. Performance Activity Plan – 5-page maximum

Provide a description of the activities the applicant will conduct to help mitigate the problem and achieve the objective’s outcome. Each activity should provide a baseline and benchmark measurable data element that is quantifiable and will measure the movement against the established baseline.

When developing the activity plan, consider the number and frequency of activities you believe will bring progress towards the ultimate goals.

vii. Performance Measurement Plan – 5-page maximum

Provide a description of how the applicant determined the baseline data that will measure progress towards achieving the performance objective(s) goal. The measurements must be quantifiable with measurable outcomes and outputs. The measures must include specific targets/benchmarks that can be reported on in the quarterly progress report, if practicable, or as annual outcomes that will gauge the progress being made on achieving the objectives and activities identified for each project.

viii. Monitoring Plan –5 Page maximum

Provide a description of the method(s) that will be used to monitor the performance goals, objectives, and activities; and report on the outputs and outcomes for each project to include timelines and milestones, as appropriate.

ix. Budget Narrative and SF-424 and SF-424A Information – 5-page maximum

A budget narrative is a description, by budget category (object class), that details the costs necessary to complete the proposed projects. A well-written budget narrative ensures that the applicant has properly documented proposed costs. The level of detail should be sufficient to justify the funding requested. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the sample budget narrative format included in Appendix B. In order to allow reviewers to evaluate the reasonableness, necessity, and allocability of all costs, applications should include a detailed budget narrative and a budget justification broken out by individual objectives.

Ensure that each project has its own budget narrative that matches the SF-424A Budget Categories Columns for each project. DO NOT include cents for Federal costs on the SF-424, SF-424A, and budget narrative.

The budget narrative should reflect the allocability of project activities to the grant.

Budgets should reflect the appropriate Federal amounts, as stated under the priorities in subsection (A)(4). FMCSA may adjust the applicant’s budget, which will require an updated SF-424, SF-424A and budget narrative to be provided.

For instructions on completing the SF-424 and SF-424A, please go to Grants.gov at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

a. SF-424, Field 18 - Box (a) – Must reflect the total estimated Federal funding requested to complete the project plan. As no match/cost sharing is required, enter “0” in Box (b). Box (g) should equal the total project amount, which is the sum of boxes (a) and (b). The value of in-kind contributions should be included on the appropriate lines, as applicable. All costs must be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.

b. SF-424A - Section A – Budget Summary – Must reflect the Federal share in column (e), , and the total cost per project in column (g). Each project in the application will be shown on lines 1-4 as applicable with the Total for each column on line 5. Note line 5 column (e)(f) and (g) must reconcile with SF-424 field 18, as described above. All costs must be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.

c. Section B – Budget Categories - Capture the total amount per object class categories, as applicable. In the column headings (1) through (4), enter the titles, that match narrative title, for each of the proposed projects that match the title in Section A and the project plan. Please note, the SF-424A covers the life of the project costs, and not just the first year (as stipulated in the SF- 424A instructions). Section B must be completed. All costs must be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.

x. Requirements When One or More Projects are Proposed

This section highlights requirements for application packages proposing one or more projects.

A project consists of one or more activities that work towards achieving a defined goal. If an applicant chooses to propose multiple CDLPI projects within a single application, each application must contain separate and distinct project narratives, budget narratives, line item budgets, and titles for each project proposed within that application package.

When an application contains multiple projects, each project must include the following sections in consecutive order: Brief Introduction, Problem Statement, Performance Objectives, Performance Activity Plan, Performance Measurement Plan, Monitoring Plan, and Budget Narrative. For example, in an application containing multiple projects, Project 1 would include the above sections in consecutive order, followed by Project 2, which would also include the above sections in consecutive order.

3. Sam.gov requirement

The applicant must:

i. Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application at https://www. sam.gov; and

ii. Provide a valid Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number on the SF-424.

If you do not have a DUNS number, you can get one free through the D&B website:

https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage do.

iii. Per the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services

Administration (GSA), by April 1, 2022, the Federal government will stop using the DUNS number to uniquely identity entities registered in SAM. Effective April 1, 2022, entities will be required to use a unique entity identifier (UEI) created in SAM.

gov.

The applicant must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration.

To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update the registration at least every 12 months from the date of initial registration or subsequently update its information in the SAM database to ensure it is current, accurate, and complete.

If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time FMCSA is ready to make a Federal award, FMCSA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

4. Submission Dates and Times

i. Deadline

Unsolicited applications will not be accepted. FULL AND COMPLETE APPLICATIONS FOR Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation ARE DUE ON February 28, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. EST. Once Grants.gov has received your submission, you will receive email messages to advise you of the progress of your application through the system. Over the next two business days, you should receive two emails: 1) confirming application receipt by the Grants.gov system; and 2) indicating that the application has either been successfully validated by Grants.gov prior to transmission to FMCSA or has been rejected due to errors. The applicant assumes responsibility for a timely and complete submission.

ii. Consideration of Applications

Only applicants who comply with all submission deadline requirements described in this NOFO and electronically submit valid applications through Grants.gov will be eligible for consideration of award. Applicants are strongly encouraged to make submissions in advance of the deadline.

iii. Late Applications

The FMCSA will not consider a late application except under extraordinary circumstances. A late application will only be accepted if there is a large-scale natural disaster or a Grants.gov system issue that threatens the timely submission of a grant application. Problems with computer systems at the applicant’s organization, failure to follow the application instructions or failure to submit or complete the program application or complete required registrations by the submission deadline are not considered system issues.

5. Intergovernmental Review

All applications under the Notice are subject to Executive Order (E.O. 12372. The applicants with a Single Point of Contact (SPOC), and therefore a requirement to comply with E.O. 12372 are listed on the Office of Management and Budget's website at: www.whitehouse.gov/omb.

6. Funding Restrictions

The CDLPI grant program is not intended to supplement ongoing operational costs of State CDL programs. Its primary purpose is to assist States in achieving and sustaining compliance with the provisions of 49 CFR parts 383 and 384.

Pre-award costs are not eligible for reimbursement. All costs must be allowable, allocable, reasonable, and necessary to achieve the stated goals, and must comply with the cost principles in 2 CFR part 200. Compliance with these requirements is the responsibility of the recipient of Federal funds. Costs must also be consistently applied and documented. These standards are described in the applicable cost principles and administrative requirements in 2 CFR §§ 200.400 through 200.475; note that § 200.405 includes requirements for allocating costs, §§ 200.416-200.417 include Special Considerations for States, Local Governments, and Indian Tribes, and §§ 200.418-200.

419 include Special Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education. Contact FMCSA’s Grants Management Office for additional information.

The lease of land or buildings is not an allowable cost.

Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in reimbursements under the award being deemed improper and subsequently disallowed.

Eligible CDLPI grant program costs include, but are not limited to:

i. Personnel expenses, including recruitment and screening, training, salaries and fringe benefits, and supervision. Personnel expenses included in an organization’s indirect cost rate must not be included as a direct cost in the grant budget.

ii. Equipment and travel expenses, including but not limited to per diem expenses directly related to compliance with the CDL regulations, vehicles (very limited and must be fully supported within project proposal), uniforms, supplies, materials, communications equipment, vehicle maintenance, fuel, and oil (very limited and must be fully supported within project proposal).

iii. Clerical and administrative expenses, to the extent necessary and directly attributable to the grant project and not already included in the indirect cost pool.

iv. Expenses related to the improvement of real property (e.g., refurbishing of paved areas for conducting off-road skills tests) that do not materially increase the value of the property.

v. Expenses related to data acquisition, storage, and analysis that are not being requested under any other FMCSA grant program’s funding, that are specifically identifiable as program-related, and that are intended to improve efficiency. The proposal should clearly demonstrate the extent to which these costs will directly benefit the grant program. Cost allocation plan(s) should be attached, as applicable, and must support the direct benefit to CDL compliance, as supported in the project proposal, as opposed to the benefit for all licensed drivers.

Note: Applications requesting information technology funding, such as upgrades or modifications to existing software or equipment, are subject to review by FMCSA’s Office of Research and Information Technology.

The FMCSA will not approve reimbursement requests for indirect costs if an approved indirect cost rate (IDC) agreement is not in force for the period that the indirect cost expenses are incurred.

If claiming indirect cost charges, the recipient must include an active approved IDC agreement with the application submitted for funding. Should the recipient fail to provide an approved agreement during the pre-award phase and a grant is awarded, the recipient will have 90 days from the date of award acceptance to provide a copy of the IDC agreement. If we do not receive the required documentation within the allocated time frame, the recipient will not be reimbursed for indirect cost charges for that fiscal year. Once an approved rate is provided to FMCSA, the recipient will then, be allowed to claim indirect cost in the following fiscal year of the award. 2 CFR § 200.414(c).

Any non–Federal entity that does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, except for those non–Federal entities described in appendix VII of 2 CFR part 200, may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs, which may be used indefinitely. No documentation is required to justify the 10% de minimis indirect cost rate. 2 CFR § 200.414(f).

The FMCSA will not approve reimbursement requests for fringe benefit expenses calculated by using a rate if there was not a fringe benefit rate approved by the recipient’s Federal cognizant agency for indirect costs in place for the period of time the fringe benefit expenses were incurred. In the absence of such a federally approved fringe rate agreement, FMCSA will approve reimbursement of fringe benefit costs based on actual costs incurred.

All FMCSA grant programs are cost reimbursable, which means that grant recipients must first expend their own money before vouchering by submitting an invoice to FMCSA for costs associated with approved activities identified in the grant agreement.

Recipients will be reimbursed by FMCSA for actual costs incurred, provided that the costs are reasonable, approved, allowable, and allocable in accordance with the OMB regulations and FMCSA policy, within the approved budget, and supported by documentation. The recipients must request reimbursement at least once each quarter.

Recipients must submit requests for reimbursement electronically through the Delphi eInvoicing System (iSupplier). Additional information is available at: http://www.

transportation.gov/cfo/delphi-einvoicing-system.

FMCSA will not provide reimbursement for salary-related bonus payments, either as a direct or indirect cost. Bonus costs are not considered a necessary expense under FMCSA awards. 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E: 2 CFR §§ 200.403 – 200.405.

7. Other Submission Requirements

Applications must be submitted electronically via https://www.grants.gov as described above in this section. In the event of system problems or technical difficulties with the application submittal, please call at 1-800-518-4726 or e-mail at support@grants.gov 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed on Federal holidays). To submit an application through Grants.gov, applicants must:

i. Create a username and password.

ii. Establish an E-Business point of contact (POC) in order to response to the registration emails.

iii. Establish at least one Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).

Please note the registration process in Grants.gov usually takes 2-4 business weeks to complete. FMCSA will not consider late applications due to failure to register or comply with Grants.gov requirements.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

i. Eligibility Criteria

FMCSA will first screen all applications received by the due date to determine if the application is eligible. In addition to the eligibility criteria under Section C, FMCSA will review the application for the following criteria.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Was the application submitted by the deadline?

2. Was the application submitted by an eligible applicant?

3. Is this application a duplicate submission as confirmed by the applicant?

4. Was the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) completed?

5. Was the Budget information for Non-Construction form (SF-424A) completed?

6. Was the Assurances for Non-Construction form (SF-424B) completed?

7. Was the grants.gov Certification Regarding Lobbying form completed?

8. Was the Disclosure of Lobbying activities form (SF-LLL) completed?

9. Do the Key Contact forms include PI/PD and ADO contact information?

10. Was a current Indirect Cost Rate agreement included in the application?

11. Does the application include a complete Budget Narrative?

12. Does the application include a complete Project Narrative?

13. Does the project support the purpose of the CDLPI grant program and statutes?

ii. Merit Evaluation Criteria

FMCSA subject matter experts will review all eligible applications using the following Merit Evaluation Criteria: Technical Merit Criteria; Budget Cost Analysis Criteria;

Program-Specific Criteria; Past Performance Criteria; Racial Equity and Climate Change & Sustainability; and Other Review Information. All of these criteria are further explained below.

a. Technical Merit

FMCSA subject matter experts will review all eligible applications using the following Merit Evaluation Criteria:

1. The proposed project(s) meets the CDL program’s priorities and statutory requirements and will likely achieve success within the proposed period of performance.

2. The application includes clearly identified performance goal(s), objectives and activities supporting one or more of the Section A.4 priorities, along with quantifiable baseline data, benchmarks, and timelines.

3. The application includes costs that are linked to the project’s goals and are reasonable and necessary for the project’s success.

4. The proposed approach is reasonable in scope, addresses existing and emerging commercial driver’s license safety issues, and is likely to be successful within the period of performance.

5. If the project proposes an innovative approach, does it have the potential to benefit the nationwide CDLPI program, if applicable; and has a project plan that provides a good description of the innovative approach and clearly articulates the benefit(s) to the national CDL program.

6. The application provides a description of how projects and tasks have been effectively managed in the past.

7. The application includes a monitoring and evaluation component that indicates how the recipient will continuously evaluate performance and outcomes and make adjustment, if necessary, which enables FMCSA to monitor performance and progress toward successful completion.

b. Budget Review/Cost Analysis Criteria

These criteria involves the budget: whether costs are allowable in accordance with Federal grant requirements, including the appropriateness and reasonableness of the budget estimate and the resources to be dedicated to the project; and the reasonableness and feasibility of the schedule relative to the application timeline.

The budget should describe specific activities that support the objective(s) of the project plan/program. FMCSA considers whether budget components such as staffing, equipment, training, and travel are clearly linked to the project’s goal(s) and are necessary to adequately compensate, equip, train, and enable personnel to conduct the activities included in the project plan.

The budget evaluation helps identify project-related risks that must be considered prior to recommendation, in addition to those risks arising from technical uncertainty. FMCSA will evaluate applications and other information, including, but not limited to:

1. Elements of work included in the application have associated budget costs and, conversely, all elements in the applicant’s budget have corresponding work elements included in the application.

2. Budget costs are allowable, allocable, necessary, and reasonable per 2 CFR part 200.

3. Cost in a particular cost category has been properly identified as allowable, with the necessary…