FY 2017 HP NOFA_Final_2016.11.16_TLupdate.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Fiscal Year 2017 - High Priority Grant Program

Notice of Funding Availability

Announcement Type: Discretionary (competitive) grant or cooperative agreement

Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance

Number:

20.237

Program Purpose:

The High Priority (HP) Grant Program is a discretionary (i.e., competitive) program which provides financial assistance to:

1) advance the technological capability and promote HP

Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD) to include the deployment of intelligent transportation system (i.e., formerly CVISN) applications for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operations, including

CMVs, commercial drivers, and carrier-specific information systems/networks; to support/maintain

CMV information systems/networks; to link Federal

Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) information systems with State CMV information systems; to improve the safety and productivity of

CMVs and commercial drivers; to reduce costs associated with CMV operations and Federal and State

CMV regulatory requirements; and/or

2) carry out HP-CMV Safety activities and projects that augment motor carrier safety activities and projects planned in accordance with the Motor Carrier Safety

Assistance Program (MCSAP) including projects related to Performance and Registration Information

Systems Management (PRISM) and Safety Data

Quality (SaDIP).

Eligible Recipients:

1) HP-ITD grants are eligible to States, the District of

Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to deploy, operate, and maintain elements of their ITD

(formerly CVISN) programs. The FMCSA may award

HP-ITD funds to eligible applicants that have an approved program plan as outlined in the FAST Act.

Individuals and businesses are not eligible to apply for

HP-ITD grants.

2) HP-CMV Safety activities/projects grants are eligible to

States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of

Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern

Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S.

Virgin Islands, local governments (including county, city, township, special district, and Federally-recognized Native American tribal governments), institutions of higher education (public, private, and

State-controlled), non-profit organizations with or without having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal

Revenue Service, for-profit entities (including small businesses), and other persons. Other persons is defined as an entity not included above and may not be an individual, foreign entity, hospital, public/Indian housing authority, or Federal institution.

Application Due Date: January 13, 2017 (11:59 P.M. Eastern Time)

A. High Priority Grant Overview

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

(FMCSA) announces the FY 2017 High Priority (HP) grant Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

The FAST Act, Pub. L. No. 114-94, §5101(2015) authorized the FY 2017 HP grant program funding, and 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§ 31102(l), 31104 (2015) and 49 Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR) part 350 govern the HP grant program. At the time of this NOFA release, Congress has not appropriated funding for the FY 2017 HP grant program and any awarding of HP grant funding is subject to the availability of funding.

As the lead government agency responsible for the regulation and safety oversight of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), the FMCSA offers HP funds to support innovative and highly impactful projects that advance its mission to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Funding is available for the support of enforcement activities that improve safety and compliance with CMV regulations; for projects that are national in scope; increase public awareness and education; demonstrate new technologies; and reduce the number and rate of CMV crashes.

This NOFA provides important information about the FY 2017 HP-ITD program and HP-CMV Safety activities/projects, highlighting the critical information related to preparing and submitting a grant application. Unless indicated otherwise, references to the HP grant program include both HP-ITD and

HP-CMV Safety activities/projects.

As authorized by the FAST Act §5101(c) and 49 U.S.C. §31104(a)(2), FMCSA expects to award a maximum of $41,567,000 in HP funding and plans to set aside up to $20,000,000 for eligible HP-ITD related projects. Therefore, a minimum of $21,567,000 will be available for HP-CMV Safety activities/projects. FMCSA reserves the right to allocate additional funds for award under either HP program based on the volume and quality of applications. Funding amounts under the HP program are subject to funding availability.

Applicants must submit separate applications, one application for HP-ITD and one application for

HP-CMV Safety activities/projects, with associated program and budget narratives, in

Grants.gov. If an applicant chooses to conduct multiple projects under either HP-ITD, or HP-CMV

Safety activities/projects, the applicant must submit separate program and budget narratives for each project contained within the application(s).

The HP grant funds are awarded through a competitive grant process and are not guaranteed. All funding decisions will be made on the merits of the respective applications. All applications must be complete (including all required submission materials – see Attachment A) and submitted in grants.gov no later than 11:59 P.M. (Eastern Time) on January 13, 2017. It is the applicant’s responsibility to adhere to application instructions, including deadline dates and times.

Applicants are urged to submit their application well in advance of the posted deadline. If an application is rejected by Grants.gov due to errors, the applicant must correct the application and it must be resubmitted and validated by Grants.gov before the published deadline date and time. The FMCSA will not consider late or incomplete applications except in circumstances it considers to be extraordinary and/or unavoidable.

Important Changes and Reminders for FY 2017

1) The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Public Law No. 114-94, § 5101) significantly restructured FMCSA’s High Priority (HP) grant program. In addition to the Act formally establishing High Priority as a stand-alone grant program, it also consolidated several previously separate grants into the HP program. Starting in FY 2017, the Safety Data Improvement Program

(SaDIP), Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) and Commercial

Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) will be components of the HP grant. In addition, CVISN will now be entitled Innovative Technology Deployment (ITD).

In addition to grant program consolidation, the FAST Act created specific parameters regarding allowable activities related to PRISM and SaDIP. Agencies responsible for submitting the State’s

Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP), known as lead agencies, generally:

May use HP funds to support PRISM projects that aide the State in reaching full participation

(defined by FMCSA as Step 6 on the PRISM implementation chart) by October 1, 2020. Once step 6 is achieved, or the mandatory compliance date is reached, a State may only use HP funds for special PRISM initiatives or projects that exceed routine operations and maintenance

(O&M).

May only use HP funds to support SaDIP projects that exceed routine operations required to maintain an overall acceptable safety data rating as defined within the Motor

Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Grant Comprehensive Policy.

Entities that are NOT responsible for the State’s CVSP (non-lead agencies) may request HP funds for all activities relating to the PRISM and SaDIP programs, including O&M expenses.

For additional information on cost eligibility and impacts of the FAST Act, please see the MCSAP

Comprehensive Policy (MCP) at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy. Further explanation regarding eligibility and application requirements is also provided in Section C of this NOFA.

2) Title VI Assessments

There will be two required Title VI Program documents for FY 2017 including the FMCSA Title VI

Program Assurance and the FMCSA Title VI Program Compliance Plan. These documents are located on Grants.gov in the “Full Announcement” tab. These forms are required and must be submitted by all

FMCSA direct grant applicants into Grants.gov.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy

The self-certification assurance ensures that the grant applicant will comply with Title VI of the Civil

Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., and related federal nondiscrimination laws 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. FMCSA's Office of Civil Rights is currently working with all FY 2016 and FY 2017 Grant applicants to develop the Compliance Plans. Grant applicants will sign and date the Assurance form and will submit the Assurance and the approved Plan with the application. Please note an approved Title VI Program Compliance Plan is required before an award may be made. For more information, please contact Mr. Lester Finkle, FMCSA National Title VI

Program Manager, at 202-366-4474 or lester.finkle@dot.gov.

HP FY 2017 NATIONAL PRIORITIES

FMCSA will assess applications submitted as listed below. Please refer to Section C of this NOFA for descriptions of the FY 2017 National Priorities for the HP-ITD program and HP-CMV Safety activities/projects.

1. For HP-ITD applications will be prioritized as follows:

a) Core compliance and/or Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window (CVIEW) implementation;

b) Improve credentialing data quality;

c) Innovative Technologies;

d) Operations and Maintenance costs associated with maintaining ITD Core compliance;

e) Operations and Maintenance costs associated with Expanded ITD projects mailto:lester.finkle@dot.gov

2. HP-CMV Safety activities/projects will be prioritized as follows:

a) Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) projects:

For Agencies that are not currently participating in the PRISM program (required by

October 1, 2020);

For Agencies that have not reached Step 6 or an equivalent (required by October 1, 2020);

and

For projects that exceed PRISM routine operations (i.e., beyond Step 6).

b) Safety Data Improvement projects:

Innovative approaches to resolving Requests for Data Review (RDRs) entered through

DataQs provides improved consistency, accountability and removes the review from the originating officer.

Innovative data projects that improve the collection of CMV data during crash investigations and/or roadside inspections.

c) Targeting unsafe driving of CMVs and non-CMVs in areas identified as high-risk crash corridors;

d) Improvements for the safe and secure movement of Hazardous Materials;

e) New technologies to improve CMV safety;

f) Improvements for the Safe Transportation of Goods and Persons in Foreign Commerce;

g) Improve CMV safety and compliance with CMV safety regulations;

h) Public Awareness and Education; and

i) For Operations and Maintenance costs associated with PRISM and Safety Data

Improvement projects for an Agency not responsible for submitting a Commercial

Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP).

B. AWARD INFORMATION

The information below provides explanation regarding the funding calculation and process for application for HP-ITD program and/or HP-CMV Safety activities/projects.

Total amount of funding FMCSA expects to award:

$41,567,000

Anticipated number of awards/ cooperative agreements:

Expected Amounts of

Individual Award s

Award Ceiling: $2,000,000

Award Floor: $10,000

Anticipated start date/periods of performance:

a) HP-ITD program – Date of execution in the fiscal year of award plus 4 additional fiscal years.

b) HP-CMV Safety activities/projects – Date of execution in the fiscal year of award plus 2 additional fiscal years

Application Type:

a) Applications are for new FMCSA awards only. Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing awards are not eligible.

b) The FMCSA will reimburse 100 percent of eligible costs with no matching requirements for the following:

HP-ITD CVIEW projects if needed for Core ITD certification, and FMCSA has not previously reimbursed a

State for a CVIEW project, or FMCSA considers the project proposal an imperative in support of mission objectives

PRISM projects for States that have not achieved Step 6 implementation or have not previously received financial assistance from FMCSA to implement PRISM.

c. The FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of eligible costs with a

15 percent matching requirement for the following:

Other HP-ITD projects;

Other HP-CMV Safety activities/projects.

d. If applying for both HP-ITD program and HP-CMV Safety activities/projects, the applicant must submit separate applications, one application for HP-ITD and one application for HP-CMV Safety activities/projects, with associated program and budget narratives.

e. If an application for HP-ITD contains more than one activity/project, the application must include separate program and budget narratives for each activity/project proposed in the application.

f. If an application for HP-CMV Safety activities/projects contains more than one activity/project, the application must include separate program and budget narratives for each activity/project proposed in the application.

C. HP PROGRAM AND PROJECT/ACTIVITIES

DESCRIPTION(S)

The FMCSA administers the High Priority (HP) Grant program to support innovative and highly effective initiatives, in partnership with highway safety stakeholders that directly support the Agency’s mission of reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. In FY 2016, the

FMCSA received a total of 116 applications requesting more than $53 million across the HP, PRISM, ITD (CVISN) and SaDIP programs. As the FAST Act has now combined these programs into one grant, FMCSA reminds applicants that the HP process will be highly competitive. Priority funding consideration will be given to those proposals that are well written; address the priorities and requirements as outlined in the NOFA; and employ novel approaches in meeting project and safety mission objectives.

Below are descriptions of the programmatic activities listed in order of priority as previously identified in Section A of this NOFA. Grantees are reminded that the FMCSA has identified certain items as reimbursable at 100% (requiring no matching finds) and others at the level of 85% (requiring a 15% match on the part of the awardee). As such, applicants should pay close attention to matching requirements when completing their HP grant proposal.

1. High Priority-Innovative Technology Deployment (ITD)

The HP-ITD grant program provides financial assistance to advance the technological capability and promote the deployment of intelligent transportation system applications for CMV operations, commercial drivers, and carrier-specific information systems and networks; to support and maintain

CMV information systems and networks; to link FMCSA information systems with State CMV information systems; to improve the safety and productivity of CMVs and drivers; and to reduce the costs associated with CMV operations and Federal and State CMV regulatory requirements.

Important: To be eligible for an HP-ITD program grant, the State applicant shall:

Completeness: have a CMV information systems and networks program plan/top level design (PP/TLD) approved by FMCSA that describes the various systems and networks at the State level that needs to be refined, revised, upgraded, or built to accomplish deployment of CMV information systems and networks capabilities (applicant must ensure approvals, including plan revisions, prior to submitting an application for the application to be considered complete).

Compliant: by accepting an FMCSA HP award and implementing activities the applicant Authorized

Designated Official will be certifying that its CMV information systems and networks deployment activities, including hardware procurement, software and system development, and infrastructure modifications are consistent with the national intelligent transportation system, and CMV information systems and networks architectures and available standards, and promote interoperability and efficiency to the extent practicable (these are included in terms and conditions of award);

Compliant: by accepting an FMCSA HP award and implementing activities the applicant will also be certifying that as the Authorized Signatory Official, he/she is designated by the State or agency to make this certification representing the Lead Agency responsible for the ITD Plan PP/TLD, or State Agency that has a Memorandum of Understanding or other agreement with the ITD (formerly CVISN) Lead

Agency. If the applicant is not the ITD (formerly CVISN) Lead Agency as outlined in the approved

PP/TLD, the applicant has coordinated with the designated Lead Agency with regard to all projects and activities requested in the grant application ensure State-wide effectiveness and efficiency and to avoid any duplication of effort or other wastefulness in Federal funding initiatives.

Compliant: to execute interoperability tests developed by FMCSA to verify that its systems conform to the national intelligent transportations systems architecture, applicable standards, and protocols for

CMV information systems and networks (also included as terms and conditions of award).

The applications received for HP-ITD projects will be given priority consideration for funding as follows:

Applications received from State Agencies to meet Core compliance, which includes the development or updating of a Program Plan/Top Level Design (PP/TLD) which is the program plan referred to in the FAST Act that describes the various systems and networks that must be refined, revised, upgraded or built to accomplish Core or Expanded capabilities. For FY 2017, the

FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of the total project cost for Core compliance projects.

Applications to deploy a CVIEW for States that have not achieved Core ITD certification previously and have not had a CVIEW previously funded by FMCSA will be reimbursed at 100 percent of the total project cost.

A CVIEW is an integral part of the ITD program and is a key mechanism through which agencies within a State can share commercial vehicle credential and safety information among themselves and with other jurisdictions across the country. The importance of this interstate data exchange to roadside enforcement, and credential administrations, cannot be over-emphasized as it enables numerous critical safety programs to check for high risk carriers and federal out-of-service orders.

This also provides real-time electronic screening of interstate vehicles for Safety, International

Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), International Registration Plan (IRP), Oversize/Overweight Permits, and other compliance information critical to a State’s safety program.

Applications that improve credentialing data quality when information is uploaded from the

State to FMCSA’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) system should include projects that ensure CVIEW applications capture updates sent to the SAFER system on a daily basis. Such applications should describe the measures to ensure the accuracy and quality of the data exchanged, promote efficient system communication, and prevent system corruption or performance degradation. All Core ITD performance measures related to credential administration and safety information exchange must be maintained to remain Core certified. The FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of the total project cost for this type of project.

Applications for Innovative Technologies for States that have met Core ITD requirements that include, but are not limited to:

1) research, testing and deploying a work-zone and incident electronic notification systems which is an in-cab alert system that will notify the CMV driver of an active work zone, traffic congestion, or an incident ahead. The alert system must be able to be broadcasted through the CMVs transponders, electronic on-board systems, cell phones, and/or motor carrier routing and dispatching systems; and

2) Research, testing and deploying a regional/national data fusion system that securely shares data available at current roadside e-screening locations, mainly license plate readers (LPR) and USDOT Number image systems, to identify vehicles for the purposes of hours-of-service verification through date/time and miles traveled calculations. State or regional data systems shall be designed to transfer data to a federal system that will allow for the sharing of this data between states through CVIEW transactions with FMCSA’s SAFER system. The FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of the total project cost.

3) Finally, FMCSA will consider applications for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs associated with HP-ITD projects that maintain and repair real property or a system, based on its current status and abilities. O&M costs may also include memberships, fees, dues, program travel, and other related program costs that maintain or support deployment activities, and are further defined in the MCP. FMCSA allows HP-ITD grant funding for

O&M costs and will reimburse 85 percent of eligible approved costs for ongoing O&M costs associated with approved HP-ITD deployment projects.

An HP-ITD application from an agency of the State that is not responsible for submitting the CVSP for that State and has an HP-ITD O&M need to remain Core ITD compliant will be considered after other

HP-ITD National Priorities outlined in above Section A, High Priority Grant Overview have been considered.

An application from an agency of the State that is responsible for submitting the CVSP that has an HP-

ITD O&M need, and chooses to apply for HP-ITD funding, will only be considered for funding after other HP-ITD and HP-CMV Safety applications.

Note: Dues and/or memberships and participation costs for personnel outside of the applicant’s organization are unallowable.

Other typical activities and costs associated with HP-ITD activities funded by the FMCSA are outlined in section 6 and Appendix H of the MCP: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy

2. High Priority (HP) - CMV Safety Activities and Projects

The HP grant program provides financial assistance to carry out activities and projects that augment motor carrier safety initiatives, and also enhance efforts proposed in the CVSP. The objective is to enable recipients to carry out enforcement activities and projects that improve CMV safety and https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy compliance with CMV regulations. Funding is also available for projects that are national in scope, increase public awareness and education, demonstrate new technologies and reduce the number and rate of CMV crashes.

Please note that routine equipment and operational expenses that should be supported under a State’s

MCSAP formula grant award to a MCSAP lead agency will not be considered under the HP Program.

Territories will be eligible to request equipment and related expenses to supplement their MCSAP activities if they can clearly demonstrate safety enforcement need relative to their current MCSAP formula allocation.

Applicants should refer to the MCP for guidance on High Priority policies and eligible activities.

A copy of the MCP may be found at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy.

The period of performance for HP-CMV Safety activities/projects will be the execution date in the fiscal year of award plus the next 2 fiscal years.

a) Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM)

PRISM utilizes the State CMV registration and law enforcement agencies to conduct two interrelated tasks to promote motor carrier safety: (1) by determining the operating status while the license or registration is in effect; and, 2) by denying, suspending, revoking or cancelling CMV registrations of a motor carrier that has been issued an operations out-of-service (OOS) order by FMCSA.

The law enforcement component improves motor carrier safety by giving inspectors the information and technology needed to identify a motor carrier’s operating status, which aids them in taking the appropriate enforcement for motor carriers operating while under an OOS order. PRISM includes several requirements related to CMV registration and law enforcement processes, which work in parallel to identify motor carriers and hold them accountable for the safety of their operations. The goal of

PRISM is to support the CMV registration and law enforcement activities through a comprehensive system of identification, education and enforcement.

For FY2017, FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of the total project cost for PRISM project(s) for jurisdictions beyond Step 6 and may reimburse up to 100 percent for the total project cost for https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy jurisdictions that have not achieved Step 6 implementation or have not previously received financial assistance from FMCSA to implement PRISM.

The applications received for HP CMV Safety, PRISM participation will be prioritized for funding as follows:

First, FMCSA will consider applications received from non-participating PRISM jurisdictions to implement PRISM (or that demonstrate participation in an acceptable alternative approach) registration requirements 1-15 and implementation changes to address law enforcement requirements 1-6.

Second, FMCSA will consider applications from participating PRISM jurisdictions that have not reached Step 6 and that implement PRISM registration requirements 1-15, and law enforcement requirements 1-6.

Third, FMCSA will consider applications from participating PRISM jurisdictions that have obtained Step 6 or greater that implement initiatives or projects that include, but are not limited to the following:

1) Enforce Registration Requirement 7: Maintain and update the IRP Status Code within the vehicle registration records, and apply the 950 status code to vehicles that are suspended due to a Federal OOS order.

2) Update the vehicle record with a suspension indicator in the State Vehicle Registration system to support NLETS registration queries.

Last, FMCSA will consider applications from non-participating and participating PRISM jurisdictions that implement Law Enforcement Requirements 1 and 2, which include deploying

CMV law enforcement strategies that use mobile technologies to identify carriers operating while under a Federal OOS order. Mobile enforcement technologies, such as portable, car-mounted and trailer LPRs will be considered for funding in FY 2017. Fixed site LPRs will not be funded in FY 2017.

Mobile LPRs will only be considered for funding only if the applicant can demonstrate in their application a plan to synchronize the mobile device with OOS carrier/vehicle information. The

OOS carrier/vehicle information must come from one of two sources:

1) PRISM Target file, which can be downloaded daily on to the device, or;

2) PRISM Web Services, which would require the device to be programmed so it can receive OOS carrier data in real-time.

For questions about the PRISM Target file or PRISM Web Services, please contact the PRISM

Technical Support at PRISMTechnicalSupport@dot.gov.

For PRISM Registration and Law Enforcement Requirements, please contact the PRISM website at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/information-systems/prism/registration-requirements.

For PRISM program components, implementation, the PRISM Procedural Manual and the full range of reference materials, please visit the PRISM Document Library at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/information-systems/prism/prism-document-library.

Reference Section 4.3.1 of the MCP for additional details at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy.

For an overview of the PRISM Implementation Steps and National Progress Map, visit:

www.fmcsa.dot.gov/information-systems/prism/states-using-prism.

b) Safety Data Improvement

The FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of eligible costs incurred in the administration of approved projects that will improve the quality of State CMV safety data. The FMCSA's data-driven safety programs use State-reported data from crashes and roadside inspections to prioritize resources for the greatest impact on large truck and bus safety. The FMCSA State Safety Data Quality (SSDQ) program focuses on maintaining high quality data from our State partners. Data quality is monitored through a set of SSDQ performance measures that assess the completeness, timeliness, accuracy, and consistency mailto:PRISMTechnicalSupport@dot.gov https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/information-systems/prism/registration-requirements http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/information-systems/prism/prism-document-library https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/information-systems/prism/states-using-prism of State-reported crash and inspection records in the Motor Carrier Management Information System.

Each month, States receive Overall State Ratings of “good,” “fair,” or “poor” based on eight SSDQ performance measures and one indicator.

The FMCSA will prioritize for funding the applications received for Safety Data Improvement as follows:

For Agencies not responsible for submitting the CVSP

Applications that contain projects that will allow the State to complete the MCSAP requirements for participation. In this context, complete the MCSAP requirements for participation means achieving an overall “good” rating in the SSDQ measures if the State does not have an overall good rating at the time of HP application.

Then, applications that contain projects that will allow the State to exceed the MCSAP requirements for participation. In this context, exceed the MCSAP requirements for participation means achieving a “good” rating in all SSDQ measures if the State has an overall “good” rating at the time of HP application. For State SSDQ ratings please visit:

https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/DataQuality/.

Note: Agencies not responsible for submitting the State’s CVSP that apply for HP funding for safety data related activities must confirm and document coordination (i.e., to include in the application which agency was contacted, date contact was made, and who was contacted) with the Agency responsible for submitting the CVSP in the grant application.

For Agencies responsible for submitting the CVSP

Applications that contain projects that will allow the State to exceed the MCSAP requirements for participation. In this context, exceed the MCSAP requirements for participation means achieving a “good” rating in all SSDQ measures if the State has an overall “good” rating. Activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

a) Development and implementation of policies and/or procedures directly related to the improvement of safety data;

https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/DataQuality/

b) Establishing and maintaining a DataQs Review Council (see DataQs Analyst Guide -https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov); or

c) Implementation of procedures to ensure that at least 85 percent of Requests for Data

Reviews are closed out within 14 days of receipt (not counting the time for the carrier and other Agencies to respond to questions).

FMCSA has determined that each State must achieve an overall “good” rating, as published in the SSDQ ratings map posted on the FMCSA Analysis & Information website

(https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/DataQuality/Default.aspx), in order to be considered compliant with the

MCSAP eligibility requirement related to data quality.

Reference Section 4.3.2 within the MCP for additional details at:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy.

Additional Tasks to Improve Large Truck and Bus Crash Data

Other activities that improve the quality of large truck and bus crash data, that may not be reflected in the SSDQ measures. Such activities include, but are not limited to, implementation and training of the large truck and bus data elements within the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration’s (NHTSA) Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria - http://www.mmucc.us/, enhanced Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) screening and data input/verification through

NHTSA’s vPIC VIN decoder (https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/), replacing crash location data with geocoded location data, or improving coordination between SAFETYNET and NHTSA’s

Fatality Analysis Recording System (FARS) coders.

c) Unsafe Driving of CMVs and non-CMVs in High Risk Areas

FMCSA will reimburse at 85 percent of eligible costs incurred in the administration of targeting unsafe driving of CMVs and non-CMVs in areas identified as high crash corridors. Any collision involving a large truck or bus has the potential to be a fatal event.

https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov/ https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/DataQuality/Default.aspx https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy http://www.mmucc.us/ https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/

In the application, the applicant must provide clear data (reports, maps, and/or analysis) that identifies these corridors (the specific highway and the mile markers involved; including analysis of the previous 3 year averages for these corridors). Based on emerging data trends, applicants may modify the specific corridors during the period of performance, but the application must identify the initial corridors; specify the specific enforcement strategies that the applicant will conduct to reduce the crash rate in these corridors. The applicant will explain how it will monitor and report on the results of these activities

(i.e., The applicant must report the number of contacts plus the number of enforcement actions issued for CMV without an inspection and non-CMV traffic enforcement and provide it to

FMCSA in their quarterly reports for the Division to upload in GOTHAM); and indicate how it will evaluate the outcome and success of this enforcement activity to demonstrate whether increased vehicle contacts, issuance of traffic citations, and traffic citation convictions and the impact this has on overall crash rates.

The applicant must demonstrate how these activities will go beyond the traditional traffic enforcement activities included in their State’s CVSP.

d) Safe and Secure Movement of Hazardous Materials

FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of eligible costs incurred in the administration of improving the safe and secure movement of Hazardous Materials (HM) with special emphasis on Cargo Tank rollovers.

Our nation relies on the goods transported by CMVs on our roadways. Among the products moved each day are hundreds of thousands of shipments of HM, such as crude oil, gasoline, and flammable gases.

Most of these shipments arrive safely, but HM have the potential to significantly harm the public and the environment by causing injury, death, and property damage when trucks transporting HM roll over.

Applicants should look at data specific to their jurisdiction to determine if there has been a significant increase in crashes or crash risks due to vehicles associated with the movement of HM. Applicants are also encouraged to identify strategies and allocate resources to address identified HM safety problems.

As part of this review effort, applicants are strongly encouraged to focus on enforcement of HM regulations, including emphasis on Cargo Tanks involved in rollovers, and that HM are properly classified and marked in accordance with HM regulations.

The applicant must demonstrate how these activities will go beyond the traditional enforcement activities included in their State’s CVSP.

e) New Technologies to Improve CMV Safety

The FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of eligible costs incurred in the demonstration of innovative methods for new technologies to improve CMV safety. Applications must be supported by data justifying the need to identify, develop and/or implement new technologies to improve CMV enforcement techniques and include clear performance measurements to evaluate the outcome of activities. An example includes an activity a State must complete in order to implement FMCSA’s electronic logging device requirements. ITD eligible applicants requesting funding for ITD related projects shall apply under HP-ITD to ensure projects are evaluated according to FAST Act requirements.

f) Safe Transportation of Goods and Persons in Foreign Commerce

FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of eligible costs incurred in the administration of projects aimed at improving the safe transportation of goods and persons in foreign commerce. In the application, the applicant must provide statistical data or an articulable fact that demonstrates a CMV safety problem in specified corridors, related to CMVs transporting goods or persons in foreign commerce. Based on data, the State may modify the specific corridors during the period of performance, but the application must identify the initial corridors; specify the specific enforcement strategies that the States will conduct to improve safe transportation of goods and persons within their State. The applicant must capture the number of contacts plus the number of enforcement actions issued for CMV without an inspection and provide it in their quarterly reports for the Division to upload in GOTHAM. Priority consideration will be given to non-border States that can document the safety impact of CMVs engaged in international commerce within their jurisdiction.

The applicant must demonstrate how these activities will go beyond the traditional enforcement activities for State agency responsible for submitting the CVSP.

g) Improve CMV Safety and Compliance with CMV Safety Regulations

FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of eligible costs incurred for improving CMV safety and compliance with CMV safety regulations. The applicant must demonstrate how these activities will go beyond the traditional enforcement activities included in their State’s CVSP. Applicants must describe the type of activities they plan to conduct including the number of personnel, the level of effort involved, and how these activities will improve CMV safety and compliance. Activities may include, but are not limited to:

Motorcoach safety initiatives;

Distracted Driving by CMV Operators;

CMV safety in Work Zones;

CMV safety on Rural Roads; and

Innovative efforts that have a demonstrable potential for nationwide implementation

h) Public Awareness and Education

FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of eligible costs incurred for Public Education and Awareness projects to provide information on a variety of traffic safety issues related to CMVs and non-CMVs which operate around large trucks and buses. Applicants must describe the type of activities they plan to conduct, including but not limited to passenger transportation, hazardous materials transportation, and share the road safely initiatives, including the number of personnel and the level of effort that will be part of this effort.

i) Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

For Agencies not responsible for submitting the State’s CVSP (Non-Lead Agencies), examples of projects include but are not limited to:

Maintain PRISM implementation, which includes updating and maintaining registration systems;

Attend the FY 2017 PRISM Workshop in the Washington, DC metropolitan area;

Other eligible projects under 49 U.S.C. §31102(l)(2).

For Agencies responsible for submitting the CVSP (Lead Agencies) examples of projects include but are not necessarily limited to:

O&M costs associated with PRISM projects in States working to achieve compliance with

Step 6 implementation before October 1, 2020.

Please note that applicants should not request funding for activities being supported through the State’s

MCSAP Grant during the same period of performance. Please refer the MCSAP Comprehensive Policy for additional guidance on eligible activities for Lead and Non-Lead Agencies relating to PRISM, ITD and SaDIP costs.

D. PROGRAM COST ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

FMCSA received FY 2016 funding application requests for considerably more than was available for award; therefore, FMCSA reminds applicants that the HP grant program is highly competitive. Thus, the applications that best address the priorities and requirements listed in this NOFA will receive priority for funding.

1. Cost Sharing

The FMCSA will reimburse 85 percent of the eligible costs incurred in the administration of an approved project plan, except as otherwise noted within this NOFA, which will require the grantee to include up to a 15 percent matching or cost- sharing contribution. Cash and/or in-kind contributions are acceptable in meeting the matching share if they represent eligible costs as established by 2 CFR part

200 and FMCSA policy.

The FMCSA will reimburse 100 percent of eligible costs for the following:

a) Eligible costs incurred in the deployment of an HP-ITD CVIEW outlined in an approved program plan for States that have not achieved Core ITD certification and have not been reimbursed for a CVIEW project previously by FMCSA.

b) PRISM projects for States that have not achieved Step 6 implementation or have not previously received financial assistance from FMCSA to implement PRISM.

2. HP Grant Funded Personnel

HP grant funded personnel, including sub-grantees, conducting inspections, under the HP grant, must meet the minimum Federal standards set forth in 49 CFR part 385, subpart C, and must have access to

FMCSA information systems to upload inspection reports. FMCSA will not consider applications that do not demonstrate how the standards and access requirements will be met.

3. Local Law Enforcement Agency Participation

FMCSA strongly encourages the participation of local law enforcement agencies in CMV safety activities either directly or in partnership with State enforcement officers. Any local law enforcement agency applying directly to FMCSA for HP grant funding must demonstrate in its application how it meets these nine conditions (49 CFR § 350.203):

i. Prepare an application in accordance with 49 CFR §350.213, as applicable.

ii. Coordinate the application with the State lead MCSAP agency to ensure the application is consistent with State and national CMV safety program priorities.

iii. Certify that your local jurisdiction has the legal authority, resources, and trained and qualified personnel necessary to perform the functions specified in the application.

iv. Designate a person who will be responsible for implementation, reporting, and administering the approved application and will be the primary contact for the project.

v. Agree to fund up to 15 percent of the proposed request.

vi. Agree to prepare and submit all reports required in connection with the application or other conditions of the grant.

vii. Agree to use the forms and reporting criteria required by the State lead MCSAP agency and/or the FMCSA to record work activities to be performed under the application.

viii. Certify that the local agency will impose sanctions for violations of CMV and driver laws and regulations that are consistent with those of the State.

ix. Certify participation in national data bases appropriate to the project.

E. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

The FMCSA utilizes Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) for accepting application forms under this program.

Unsolicited applications will not be accepted. See Appendix A for a checklist to ensure your application package is complete and submitted correctly.

Step 1: To apply, the applicant must first complete the Grants.gov registration process. Note that the registration process for new users can take as long as four weeks.

Step 2: Every applicant must be registered in the

System for Award Management (www.SAM.gov) before submitting the application; 2) provide a valid

Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in its application; and 3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by FMCSA.

For Grants.gov assistance, contact:

Phone: 1-800-518-4726 (toll-free) or 606-545-5035

How do I know that my application has been received by Grants.gov?

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) confirms application receipt by the Grants.gov system; and 2) indicates 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. Click here for more information http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

Business Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Closed on Federal holidays

Email: support@grants.gov

Modifications to an application after it has been submitted will require a resubmission of the entire application package. The applicant must notify the FMCSA GMO prior to resubmitting the package.

Submitting changes to Grants.gov without contacting the FMCSA GMO could significantly delay application submission and may result in the application not being accepted as complete.

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 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.

1) Content and Form of Application Submission

Applicants are not required to use the project or budget narrative format below, however; doing so helps ensure that the application meets the established minimum requirements.

a) Brief Introduction: Include a 1-2 sentence description of the goal(s) of the application and the applicable program priority(s) met by the application’s projects. Include in this introduction specific information about the outputs the application proposes to achieve. For each goal identified, the applicant must provide a problem statement, performance objective, program activity plan, and performance measurement plan.

b) Problem Statement: A quantitative description of the identified problem. Include details on the 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).

c) Performance Objective: A description of the applicant’s quantifiable goal related to the above problem statement. This can be measured in numbers, percentages, or other forms that mailto:support@grants.gov accurately measure the outputs and outcomes the applicant anticipates will result from implementing the strategies and activities proposed.

d) Program Activity Plan: A description of the activities the applicant believes will help mitigate the problem. Description should include details such as number and frequency of activities.

e) Performance Measurement Plan: A description of how the applicant will measure progress towards the performance objective goal, such as quantifiable and measurable outputs (hours, carrier contacts, inspections, etc.) and in terms of performance outcomes. The measure must include specific benchmarks that can be reported on in the quarterly progress report, if practicable, or as annual outcomes.

f) Budget Narrative: 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. A sample budget narrative format is included in

Appendix B.

2. Application Package Requirements

Please see Appendix A – Application Package Checklist for a list of required documents and submission location.

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

All applications received by the due date will undergo an initial intake review to determine if: (1) the application includes all required documents – see Attachment A; and (2) the application is eligible for a comprehensive programmatic evaluation. Applications that meet those two criteria are then evaluated by a cross-discipline team made up of a technical review panel (TRP), grant specialists, program officers, and FMCSA staff responsible for day-to-day grant management oversight.

Each…