FY 2021 CDLPI Funding Conf QandAs.pdf

Commercial Driver’s License Division

February 2021

Fiscal Year 2021 Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) Funding Conference Q&As

On Thursday, February 18, 2021, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Division held its annul funding conference for potential grantees. The purpose of the funding conference was to:

Provide an overview of the CDLPI grant program;

Update participants on the Title VI Compliance Program requirements;

Outline important information from the fiscal year (FY) 2021 CDLPI Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NOFO);

Introduce the CDLPI performance-based application structure;

Supply participants with available resources and contact information; and Answer any outstanding questions.

During the funding conference, FMCSA answered several questions. Below are the answers that were provided during the funding conference.

Project Narrative Elements

1. Last year we had to submit the problem statement, performance objectives, program activity plan, performance measurement plan and now you have 2 more and number 6 is monitoring plan for each project. What were the last two that are needed for each project? Monitoring plan is number 6.

Answer: Please utilize the NOFO and the funding conference slides as an outline for completing all elements of an application and project plan. In section D. 2. of the NOFO, the elements that are required in a CDLPI application are provided. The funding conference slides provide another outline of the elements of a project plan and are broken out slightly different. The difference is that the NOFO combines the elements of the performance measurement plan and monitoring plan, which are represented as item numbers 5 & 6 in the slides. As outlined in the NOFO, the SDLA assessment is listed as a requirement to be completed by SDLAs, but not other eligible entities.

2. You also stated we have to put the regulation in each problem statement of each project, which is also different from last year.

Answer: Yes, the NOFO states that the 49 CFR part citation that supports the compliance initiative(s) must be provided for each project. For reference, please see the NOFO Section A. 4. National Priorities.

CDLPI Grant Applicability

3. How can this grant be helpful to a municipality? The project that we are considering is that we have a shortage of CDL drivers in our region, looking to augment and hire a school to provide training.

Answer: The applicant must decide if the CDLPI grant funding opportunity priorities will support your specific project description/proposal.

4. For a non-State CDL training program to apply, must they be accredited by a higher education program?

Answer: Your question appears to be related to FMCSA’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant program based upon your statement about accreditation and CDL training.

Please review the CMVOST NOFO to determine if your specific project meets the eligibility and priorities required to receive funding. For more information, search for grant opportunity number:

FM-DTG-21-001 on grants.gov.

5. If a State law enforcement agency responsible for CDL testing wanted to apply for a pilot study to reduce CDL testing and part of that included personnel costs, would CDLPI or CMVOST be a better fit?

Answer: FMCSA recommends that you review both the CDLPI and CMVOST NOFOs to determine which grant program would support the proposed project.

100% vs. 85% Funded Projects

6. Should we submit separate applications for 100% and 85% funded projects? How do you determine if it should be 85% or 100%? If after reviewing Section A. 4. we are still not sure whether or not a project is eligible for 100% or 85% funding may we seek guidance from

FMCSA?

Answer: FMCSA cannot tell you which priority to apply under, as the applicant, you are responsible for making that determination. We suggest that you thoroughly review the NOFO to include the section that breaks out the funding levels by priorities, see Section A. 4.

7. If an applicant incorrectly identifies a project and applies for 100% when it should be 85%, will this automatically disqualify the applicant since there is an application for 100% projects and a separate one for 85% funded projects? As a follow-up, is it possible to apply under both 85% and 100% for the same project?

Answer: This year’s NOFO does not request separate applications for 100% vs. 85% Federally funded projects. If an applicant chooses to submit two applications that is up to the individual. FMCSA would not fund both projects. If a project was submitted for 100% and is only eligible for 85%, FMCSA may provide funding at the 85% level, but the applicant would have to agree to contribute the 15% match for the project to be awarded.

Funding Limits

8. Is there a cap limit on the funding awarded, and if so, is the cap limit by project or by total application?

Answer: There is no funding cap noted in the NOFO.

Miscellaneous

9. Will this presentation or meeting be on the AAMVA website for reference?

Answer: The presentation and all materials, including the funding conference recording and questions and answers, will be posted to grant.gov under the “Related Documents” tab for this opportunity number: FM-CDL-21-001.