FY26 ETS NOFO_Redlined_4.1.26.pdf

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Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary Information

Federal Agency Name:

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE West Building, Washington, DC 20590

Funding Opportunity Title: Commercial Motor Vehicle High Priority Enforcement Training and Support Grant Program (HP-ETS) Grant Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: FM-ETS-26-001

Assistance Listing:

20.243

Key Dates:

Executive Summary:

Application Due Date – April 24, 2026 5:00pm EST

The objective of the HP-ETS grant program is to train non- Federal employees who conduct CMV enforcement activities in accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Out-of-Service criteria [1]; and to develop related training materials to increase awareness and education on CMV safety and otherwise improve CMV safety.

[1] As required by Section 5202 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, FMCSA has adopted via policy the roadside inspectors’ certification standards as developed and maintained by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Operational Policy 4 – Inspector Training and Certification.

Point of Contact: Financial application concerns:

Tiffany Boyd 240-948-8780 Tiffany.Boyd@dot.gov

Programmatic application concerns:

Jeanette Staton 202-366-9426 Jeanette.Staton@dot.gov mailto:Tiffany.Boyd@dot.gov mailto:Jeanette.Staton@dot.gov

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Table of Contents

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

SECTION E – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

SECTION F – AWARD NOTICES

SECTION G – POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

SECTION H – FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

SECTION I – OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX A – APPLICATION PACKAGE REQUIREMENT CHECKLIST

APPENDIX B – BUDGET NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

APPENDIX C – CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT

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SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Overview and Authorizing Statutes and Regulations The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commercial Motor Vehicle High Priority Enforcement Training and Support (HP-ETS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications from eligible entities to support HP-ETS program activities.

The HP-ETS grant program is governed by 49 U.S.C. §§ 31102(l)(5) and 31104, as modified by Sections 23001(b) and 23005 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58 (2021).

FMCSA intends to make up to three awards totaling $5,000,000 $10,000,000 in FY 2026 under this opportunity as cooperative agreements as defined under 2 CFR § 200.24.

To the extent permitted by law and to the extent applicable, priority will be given to grant applications in accordance with DOT Order – Ensuring Reliance upon Sound Economic Analysis in Department of Transportation Policies, Program, and Activities.

This NOFO provides important information about the HP-ETS program, highlighting the critical required information related to preparing and submitting an application.

The Federal Assistance Listing is 20.243.

HP-ETS Purpose and Eligibility As the lead government agency responsible for the regulation and safety oversight of commercial motor vehicles (CMV), FMCSA may award HP-ETS funds for the development and delivery of motor carrier safety training to non-Federal employees.

The objectives of the HP-ETS grant program are (1) to train non-Federal employees who conduct CMV enforcement activities in accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Out-of- Service criteria,1 and (2) to develop related training materials to increase awareness and education on CMV safety and otherwise improve CMV safety.

HP-ETS

FMCSA may award HP-ETS funds only to nonprofit organizations that have:

i. Expertise in conducting CMV enforcement and compliance training programs for non-Federal employees; and

ii. The ability to influence and involve a target population of CMV safety enforcement employees in a training program.

Please note: No for-profit businesses may apply under this NOFO.

HP-ETS Award Performance Goals and Indicators FMCSA will measure the effectiveness of HP-ETS awards against performance goals. Performance

1 As required by Section 5202 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, FMCSA has adopted via policy the roadside inspectors’ certification standards as developed and maintained by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Operational Policy 4 – Inspector Training and Certification.

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Page | 5 goals will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• CMV Safety Improvement: Indicators will include the number of training courses conducted and number of personnel certified to conduct CMV safety and enforcement efforts (inspections, investigations, audits, etc.).

• Innovative Approach: Indicators for the effectiveness of different delivery methods and the effectiveness of novel techniques and approaches (program design, use of technology, etc.) to enhance learning and knowledge retention will be drawn from, but not limited to, surveys, instructor evaluations, and standardized exam scores.

Consideration for Funding HP-ETS funds are awarded through a competitive grant process and no assurance of funding is implied, nor should it be inferred.

FMCSA will consider applications for funding that demonstrate how the applicants will provide comprehensive training to non-Federal personnel in the CMV safety areas identified within this NOFO.

As noted, funds under the HP-ETS will only be awarded to non-profit entities as defined in this document; not for-profit businesses may apply under this NOFO.

General Applicants seeking funding under the HP-ETS must include detailed descriptions outlining the following components within their application.

a. Delivery Methods: Describe the delivery method(s) for each course, including whether the course will be offered via Instructor-Led Training (ILT), Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT), Web-based training (WBT), or a combination of these options.

b. Curriculum Development: Describe how the development of curricula and supporting materials will be accomplished for each delivery method.

c. Key Personnel and Instructors: Applications must include the experience and subject matter expertise of core personnel in the design, development, and delivery of curricula and instructional materials for adult learners across course delivery methods (ILT, VILT, WBT).

d. Student Examinations, Record Retention and Reporting: Describe the process that will be utilized to provide electronic examinations, track results, and report all associated information to

FMCSA.

Curriculum Development Curriculum development is defined as the process of selecting, organizing, executing, and evaluating the learning experiences on the basis of the needs, abilities, and interest of learners.

Organizations seeking funding under HP-ETS must describe the instructional design process that will be utilized in the development, delivery and assessment of courses funded under this NOFO. In addition, applicants must describe the method of course evaluation that will be employed to assess the student reaction to, and effectiveness of, each course included within the application. Examples of instructional system design and program evaluation are provided below. Applicants may elect to use these, or other equivalent models, to achieve the required objectives within this NOFO.

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• ADDIE Model of Design: https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/addiemodelsop/

• Kirkpatrick Model of Evaluation: https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/kirkpatrick/

Regardless of the model utilized, applicants must be sure to clearly identify, explain, and justify their approach in the proposal.

Please see Appendix C for additional information and resources on course objectives, curriculum design standards, and the style guides for current training and certification courses provided by FMCSA via its National Training Center (NTC). All courses funded under this NOFO must adhere to Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation (FLETA) standards. More information on FLETA may be obtained at https://www.fleta.gov/.

Please Note: Any proposed modification(s) to curricula and/or materials must be approved by FMCSA prior to implementation.

Required Courses The training of non-Federal personnel is crucial to the effectiveness of national CMV safety enforcement and compliance efforts. To ensure that non-Federal personnel conducting safety activities are properly trained and comply with Federal certification and recertification requirements referenced in 49 CFR 350.207(a)(6), applicants are strongly encouraged to submit proposals that comprehensively address all training needs including, but not limited to, inspections, motorcoaches, hazardous materials, new entrant safety audits, and investigatory activities. FMCSA’s current certification requirements may be found at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/certification.

FMCSA has traditionally offered 10 courses covering the three knowledge categories of Inspections (including Motorcoaches); Hazardous Materials; and Investigative/Audit. Awardees will be given the option of utilizing the currently available FMCSA course materials listed below, modifying existing FMCSA materials, or developing their own (adhering to the already established objectives). Applicants should detail in their proposal which option they choose to utilize to provide accurate budget estimates.

Please Note: Any proposed modification(s) to curricula and/or materials must be approved by FMCSA prior to implementation.

The full list of FMCSA certification courses may be found in the table below. When developing activity and budget estimates relating to training courses, organizations must consider the volume and frequency of training needed to adequately address demand. To aid with this requirement, the table below outlines the number of course offerings (mostly in-person) experienced by FMCSA in FY 2024 for the 10 courses covering the previously identified training categories.

Inspection Courses

North American Standard Part A 1,767 Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/north-american-standard-part

North American Standard Part A (Alaska) No Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/north-american-standard-part-alaska

North American Standard Part B 1,266 Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/north-american-standard-part-b https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/addiemodelsop/ https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/kirkpatrick/ https://www.fleta.gov/ https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/certification https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/north-american-standard-part https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/north-american-standard-part-alaska https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/north-american-standard-part-b

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Passenger Carrier Vehicle Inspection 336 Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/passenger-carrier-vehicle-inspection-pcvi

Hazardous Materials Courses

General Hazardous Materials 719 Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/general-hazardous-materials

Cargo Tank Inspection 576 Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/cargo-tank-inspection

Advanced Roadside for Hazardous Materials No Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/advanced-roadside-hm

Other Bulk Packaging 575 Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/advanced-explosives

Investigative Courses

Investigative Safety Analysis 78 Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/investigative-safety-analysis

New Entrant Safety Audit 80 Students in FY 2024 https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/new-entrant-safety-audit-course

Optional Courses In addition to the above required certification courses, applicants may propose training covering other areas relating to CMV safety and enforcement efforts. For example, organizations may include submissions for the creation and deployment of training in the areas of human trafficking, CMV traffic enforcement, interdiction, or other areas as identified by the applicant. When proposing additional training offerings, applicants must include relevant data to support the need for these additional training courses to improve CMV enforcement and/or safety.

Please note that all courses funded under this NOFO must adhere to Federal requirements regarding accessibility by persons with disabilities. Applicants must ensure that this effort and cost is included in their proposal.

Delivery Methods Please see Appendix C for additional information on course delivery methods.

Web-based Training (WBT) - for the purpose of this NOFO, is defined as training which utilizes the internet for self-paced study as the instructional delivery method. Curriculum and related materials developed for this method will be considered as new development only, since existing FMCSA course materials are not available.

https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/passenger-carrier-vehicle-inspection-pcvi https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/general-hazardous-materials https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/cargo-tank-inspection https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/advanced-roadside-hm https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/advanced-explosives https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/investigative-safety-analysis https://fmcsa.lms.dot.gov/course/new-entrant-safety-audit-course

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Instructor-Led Training (ILT) - for the purpose of this NOFO, this methodology involves face- to-face, in-person training delivered in a classroom, in the presence of an instructor or facilitator. The topical focus may be either hands-on use of a computer workstation or academic-style lecture and discussion.

This methodology may be used as a component in a “blended” approach utilizing alternative methodologies.

Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) - for the purpose of this NOFO, this methodology involves face-to-face instructor-led training delivered virtually, in the presence of an instructor or facilitator. The topical focus may be either hands-on use of a computer workstation (e.g., using the Integrated library System( ILS)) or academic-style lecture and discussion (e.g., FRBR concepts(Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records)). This methodology may be used as a component in a “blended” approach utilizing alternative methodologies.

Key Personnel and Instructors Qualifications

Key Personnel Applicants must list the key personnel (program manager, instructional designer, multimedia developer, and exam administrator) responsible for execution of the proposed activities, including details on their qualifications and responsibilities in relation to the project. These key personnel must include, at a minimum, individuals with sufficient experience in instructional system design, multimedia development, audio/visual production, and exam administration. Resumes outlining professional qualifications of these individuals may be attached to the application in lieu of descriptions in the narrative. Applicants must ensure this information includes key personnel’s experience with ILT, VILT, and/or WBT content delivery methodologies.

Example job descriptions are included below as a reference. Applicants may elect to utilize their own position definitions as appropriate as long as the core requirements indicated above are met.

https://connectdot.cosocloud.com/position-job-descriptions

Instructor Qualifications Instructor training and qualifications are critical to the success of any training program. To ensure that students are being provided the best possible learning environment, applicants must outline the process that will be utilized to select instructors, instructor trainers, and other staff responsible for the delivery of learning content.

Please note that instructors utilized by the grantee must be non-Federal instructors who have successfully completed the FMCSA Instructor Development Program (IDP) and who maintain all FMCSA-required instructor certifications. The IDP is Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation (FLETA) certified. More information on FLETA may be found at https://www.fleta.gov/.

Student Examinations, Record Retention and Reporting An assessment and/or examination to measure a student’s knowledge, skill, and ability upon completion of instructional courses is essential. In addition, the safe and secure retention of appropriate student records and reporting of measurable outcomes are crucial to the successful execution of an award.

Student Examination For the purpose of this NOFO, applicants must articulate within their proposal how student examinations and assessments (upon completion of a course) will be designed, developed, https://connectdot.cosocloud.com/position-job-descriptions https://www.fleta.gov/

Page | 9 implemented, and delivered. Organizations must include a description of their secure online exam platform within their proposal. Examination definitions specific to this NOFO include:

• Course Exam - written examination taken at the completion of the course to demonstrate proficiency. To be aligned with current requirements for Federal personnel, non-Federal students must score a minimum of 80% to pass an exam.

• Re-Exam – written examination taken to demonstrate proficiency when a student has not successfully passed the Course Exam. The student may attempt one Re-Exam and must score a minimum of 80% to pass. A student who does not pass the Re-Exam must complete the course again and pass the written examination with a score of 80% or higher to demonstrate proficiency.

• Challenge – written examination to demonstrate proficiency in a disciple when a student has allowed their certification in that discipline to lapse. Students may challenge for each specific discipline once.

As noted, if a student does not pass a written examination with a score of 80% or higher, the student will be required to retake the course and pass the written examination with a score of 80% or higher.

Applicants are encouraged to propose an examination and assessment process that aligns with the current FMCSA model for certification courses. A list of learning objectives, item matrices, and other information pertinent to this model may be found in Appendix C.

Please note: Any course examination modifications must be approved by FMCSA prior to administration.

Record Retention Requirements The retention of comprehensive student records in a secure, but accessible, electronic format is a requirement under this NOFO. FMCSA’s Learning Management System (LMS) will be the official repository for all training information. The recipient must either provide an interface to FMCSA’s LMS (without using Federal funds) or input all required information directly into FMCSA’s LMS.

In developing proposals in response to this NOFO, applicants must detail how they will address this requirement. A list of potential training record content is included in Appendix C as a reference.

Applicants who are awarded funds under this NOFO must submit a record retention policy to FMCSA for approval post-award.

Reporting The successful awardee must collect and report data in accordance with specific performance measures.

Organizations will be expected to submit reports on a schedule outlined post-award. Applicants must ensure that the systems and processes they propose within their application can provide data in areas including, but not limited to, the number of courses, registrations, students, exam results (passing and failing), certifications/re-certifications approved, and other areas as identified by FMCSA-post- award.

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SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Funding and Number of Awards FMCSA anticipates making up to three awards totaling $5,000,000 $10,000,000, subject to the availability of funds, to applicants under this NOFO.

FMCSA will limit Federal funding to a maximum total amount of $5,000,000 $10,000,000.

Type of Award Awards under this NOFO will be issued as cooperative agreements.

Degree of Federal Involvement In accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 6305, FMCSA will award a cooperative agreement when substantial involvement between FMCSA and the recipient is anticipated when carrying out the activity.

For this funding opportunity, substantial involvement includes, but is not limited to:

• FMCSA will administer an Instructor Development Program. In addition, FMCSA will monitor and retain all documentation for certified instructors.

• Project initiation meeting to establish broad objectives and timetables to complete activities as provided in the original application.

• Joint development and FMCSA’s prior approval of education materials, reports, etc. as listed in the original application and as part of an approved project.

• FMCSA will assign Subject Matter Experts to monitor courses; provide technical assistance to the recipient; assist with the exchange of ideas and information as necessary and permissible;

and perform other actions relating to the monitoring of performance activities under this award.

• FMCSA will assign Master Instructors to conduct Instructor evaluations.

• FMCSA must have access to the recipient’s LMS and file-sharing system specific to this NOFO.

• FMCSA’s LMS will be the official repository for all training information. The recipient must either provide an interface to FMCSA’s LMS (without using Federal funds) or input all required information directly into FMCSA’s LMS.

• Joint development and FMCSA’s prior approval of grantee policies relating to waivers from class attendance, examinations or other special circumstances.

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.

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

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Period of Performance The period of performance is the Federal fiscal year in which the award is made plus four additional fiscal years.

Please note: As required in Section D (2)(ii)(c) of this NOFO, applicants must provide a detailed 15 27-month project timeline inclusive of an initial 3-month transition period, dates, tasks, milestones, and project end-date associated with meeting the performance objectives.

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SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants HP-ETS awards are available only to nonprofit organizations that have:

• Expertise in conducting a training program for non-Federal employees; and

• The ability to reach and involve in a training program a target population of commercial motor vehicle safety enforcement and compliance employees.

Nonprofit organizations may apply for HP-ETS projects related to training non-Federal employees who conduct commercial motor vehicle enforcement activities and development of related training materials.

For-profit organizations are NOT eligible entities.

Cost-Sharing and Matching Requirements

FMCSA will not require a matching share for awards under this NOFO.

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SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Address to Request Application Package Potential applicants may obtain all forms at http://www.grants.gov. Applicants may also request paper copies of materials at:

Email: FMCSA_GrantMgmtHelpdesk@dot.gov

Mail: U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Grants Management Office (MC-BG) 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590

Content and Form of Application Submissions Application packages must contain the below elements, and all applicable documentation described in Appendix A, to be considered for an award. Appendix B contains example formats that may, but are not required to be, used.

Formatting The application must follow the format and limitation stated below:

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

b. Margins (Top, Bottom, Right and Left) no smaller than 1 inch on all pages (Header and Footer are allowed in the margins).

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

d. Application 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 total pages (5-page limit per narrative section, NOT per project). FMCSA will not read or consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process. NOTE: The 35-page total limit applies only to the narrative sections. Submission of documentation and forms described in Appendix A will not count against the application page limit.

Narrative Section Requirements Application narrative packages are limited to 35 total pages (5-page limit for each narrative section listed below). This 35-page limit is per application, not per project. Submission of all required SF-forms, key contact, attachment forms, and indirect cost (IDC) agreements do not count against the page limitation. While supplemental attachments are allowed, the application’s project and budget narratives must include all required information. The narrative sections must indicate when a supplemental attachment needs to be referenced.

To learn more about requirements and for assistance with writing a successful narrative, please refer to the Best Practices document, which includes examples of each section below.

http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:FMCSA_GrantMgmtHelpdesk@dot.gov https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/downloadFile.axd/HP_Best_Practices_20190628.pdf

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The application must include the following sections in consecutive order for each of the proposed projects:

a. Brief Introduction – up to 5 page maximum Provide a description of the purposes for the project. This section must include the intended outcome(s) of the proposed project.

b. Performance Objectives – no more than 5 pages

Provide a description of the applicant’s anticipated quantifiable performance objective(s). These objectives 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 based on NOFO requirements. Objectives must be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Bound. Please note that applicants must include expected performance objectives for each project included in the application.

When creating performance objectives in response to the NOFO, applicants should consider objective examples for each of the courses that will be delivered. Examples include but are not limited to the number of students trained in each course, what development projects will be undertaken, etc.

c. Project Activity Plan – up to 5 page maximum

Provide a description of the activities the applicant will conduct to address the training requirements identified within the proposal and how the performance objective(s) and outcome(s) will be achieved. The description must include specific strategies relating to the initial transition period, course development, implementation, evaluation, and other areas highlighted in Section A of this NOFO. Information must include: (1) Personnel summary inclusive of the number of personnel assigned to the project, their percentage of time dedicated to the project, and total number of hours needed to complete the project. (2) Level of effort summary inclusive of the number and frequency of activities, number of courses provided, types of courses provided. (3) A detailed 15-month project timeline inclusive of an initial 3-month transition period, dates, tasks, milestones and project end-date associated with meeting the performance objectives. Please note that applicants must carefully read Section A to ensure that all required areas are addressed within their Project Activity Plan.

d. Performance Measurement Plan – up to 5 page maximum

Provide a description of how the applicant will measure progress towards achieving the performance objective(s). The measurement must include quantifiable and measurable outcomes and outputs (for example number of students trained, number of courses offered, number pass/failed, etc.). The measures must include specific targets/benchmarks that can be reported in the quarterly progress report and annual outcomes which will gauge the progress being made on achieving the objectives and activities identified for each project.

e. Reporting Plan – up to 5 page maximum Provide a description of the applicant’s method for ongoing monitoring of the progress of the project. This should include who will conduct the monitoring, the frequency with which it will be carried out, and how and to whom reports will be made as defined in Section A (c) - Reporting.

Each report shall provide concise statements concerning activities relevant to the project, Page | 15 including activity and performance metrics directly relating to the performance of grant activities during that period. Applicants must state, as specifically as possible, what metrics they anticipate reporting within this section of their application.

f. Budget Narrative – up to 5 page maximum

Provide 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. To allow reviewers to evaluate the reasonableness, necessity, and allocability of all costs, budget narratives must include budget justifications broken out by individual objectives. The level of detail must be sufficient to justify the funding requested. Please do not give bundled cost for expenses such as travel, equipment, supplies, conferences, etc. For example, travel cost must be broken out to show per person itemized cost of airfare, lodging, miles, etc.

The budget narrative must match the SF-424A Budget Categories Columns. DO NOT include cents for Federal costs on the SF-424, SF-424A, and budget narrative.

The budget narrative must reflect the allocability of project activities to the grant. Budgets must reflect the appropriate Federal amounts, as stated under the priorities in Section A (4) of this NOFO. FMCSA may adjust the applicant’s budget, which will require an updated SF-424, SF-424A, and budget narrative to be provided post-award.

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

The below section provides exceptions to the SF-424 and SF-424A forms instructions and highlights key areas.

Budget narrative template is included with the HP-ETS application package on Grants.gov. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the template to aid with developing a responsive budget narrative.

Please refer to the following links for cost eligibility information:

• MCSAP Comprehensive Policy

• Code of Federal Regulations - 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements

SF-424 and SF-424A SF-424, Item (8), Entry (f) – Must reflect the first and last name (required); prefix, middle name, suffix, title. The individual listed here is designated by the applicant entity as the point of contact (POC) for matters involving this application. It is critical that the applicant correctly designate and list its intended POC, in addition to the authorized representative/signatory listed under Item (21), as these names will be used to generate the Notice of Grant Agreement (NGA).

SF-424, Item (12) – Must reflect the Funding Opportunity Number and title of the opportunity under which assistance is requested, as found in the program announcement.

SF-424, Item (18) – Entry (a) must reflect the total estimated Federal funding requested to complete the project plan. As no match/cost sharing is required under this NOFO, enter “0” in Entry (b). Entry

(g) must equal the total project amount, which is the sum of entries (a) and (b). The value of in-kind https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/mission/grants/73001/motor-carrier-grant-comprehensive-policy-v31.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1

Page | 16 contributions should be included on the appropriate lines, as applicable. All costs must be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.

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) through (4), as applicable with the total for each column on line 5. Note line 5 columns (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.

SF-424A, Section B - Budget Categories - Capture the total amount per object class categories, as applicable. In columns (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.

For full instructions on completing these forms, please go to:

https://www.Grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management

(SAM)

The applicant must:

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

ii. Obtain and use a unique entity identifier (UEI) created in SAM.gov; and

iii. Accept the financial assistance certifications and representations required for (non-Federal entities) during the SAM.gov registration and/or renewal process per 2 CFR § 200.209.

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.

Submission Dates and Times

Deadline FULL AND COMPLETE APPLICATIONS FOR HP-ETS Financial Assistance ARE DUE ON April 24, 2026 by 5:00 pm 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

Page | 17 prior to transmission to FMCSA or has been rejected due to errors. The applicant assumes all responsibility for a timely and complete application submission. See https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html for more information related to submitting the application on Grants.gov.

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 well in advance of the deadline.

Late Applications FMCSA will not consider a late application except under extraordinary circumstances. A late application will be accepted only if there is a large-scale natural disaster or a significant Grants.gov system issue that threatens the timely submission of a grant application. Problems with computer systems at the applicant organization (excluding verified cyber-attacks), 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 extraordinary circumstances.

Intergovernmental Review The This funding opportunity are is subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” The States with a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) and therefore a requirements to comply with E.O. 12372 are listed at the Office of Management and Budget’s website:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/

Funding Restrictions HP-ETS funds are awarded through a competitive evaluation process and are not guaranteed. All funding decisions will be made based on meeting the requirements of the NOFO, FMCSA’s national priorities, and the merits of the respective applications.

All cost elements of an application must be necessary, reasonable, allocable, and allowable to accomplish the objective(s) of the project. Cost eligibility standards are described in the applicable cost principles and administrative requirements:

• MCSAP Comprehensive Policy

• Code of Federal Regulations - 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements In accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR Parts 350.415 and 350.417 and the Federal Uniform Administrative Requirements Cost Principles, the eligibility of all expenditures is subject to review by

FMCSA.

FMCSA is not obligated to approve costs incurred outside the award period of performance. These costs are incurred at the sole risk of the applicant and impose no obligation on FMCSA to make an award or to increase the amount of the approved budget.

FMCSA will not provide reimbursement for indirect costs (IDCs) if an approved IDC rate agreement was not in place for the period of time when the IDC expenses were incurred. If claiming IDC charges, the grant recipient must include an active approved IDC agreement with the application submitted for https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/mission/grants/73001/motor-carrier-grant-comprehensive-policy-v31.pdf

Page | 18 funding. Should the grant recipient fail to provide an approved agreement during the pre-award phase and a grant is awarded, the grant recipient will have 90 days from the date of award acceptance to provide a copy of the IDC agreement. If FMCSA does not receive the required documentation within the allocated time frame, the grant recipient will not be reimbursed for indirect charges for that fiscal year.

Once an approved rate is provided to FMCSA, the grant recipient will then be allowed to claim IDCs in the fiscal year following the fiscal year of the award. 2 CFR Part 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 IDC rate. 2 CFR Part 200.414(f).

All FMCSA grant programs are cost reimbursable, which means that grant recipients must first incur costs before submitting a request for reimbursement to FMCSA for costs associated with approved activities identified in the cooperative 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. Recipients must request reimbursement at least once each quarter.

Consistent with 2 CFR 200.458, as applicable, FMCSA will only approve pre-award costs if such costs are incurred pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the cooperative agreement and if such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work. Under 2 CFR 200.458, grant recipients must seek written approval from FMCSA for pre-award activities to be eligible for reimbursement under the grant. Activities initiated prior to the execution of a grant or without FMCSA’s written approval may be ineligible for reimbursement.

Grant recipients must submit requests for reimbursement electronically through the Delphi eInvoicing System (iSupplier). Additional information is available at: https://www.transportation.gov/cfo/delphi-einvoicing-system.

FMCSA will not provide reimbursement for salary-related bonus payments, either as a direct or IDC.

Bonus costs are not a necessary expense under FMCSA awards. See 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E; 2 CFR Parts 200.403 – 200.405.

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 1-800-518-4726 or email 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 POC in order to respond to the registration emails; and

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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.458 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.458 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.458 https://www.transportation.gov/cfo/delphi-einvoicing-system https://www.transportation.gov/cfo/delphi-einvoicing-system https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov

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Funds, Sources and Uses of Project Funds Project budgets should show how different funding sources will share in each activity and present the data in dollars and percentages. The budget should identify other Federal funds the applicant is applying for, has been awarded, or intends to use. Funding sources should be grouped into three categories: non-Federal, current HP-ETS application, and other Federal. The budget should identify specific amounts for each funding source.

Sharing of Application Information The Department may share application information within the Department or with other Federal agencies if the Department determines that sharing is relevant to the respective program’s objectives.

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SECTION E – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Criteria

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 below criteria.

Application Eligibility Criteria Instructions Deadline submission was met Section D.3.i Applicant eligibility was met Section A.2, C.1 & E.1 SAM Registration Section D.2.ii SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance Section D.2.ii SF-424 includes a UEI Section D.2.iii SF-424A, Budget Information Form Section E.1.ii Budget Narrative D.2.ii Application/Project Narrative D.2.ii Any other applicable Grants.gov document or attachment listed in Appendix A

Appendix A

Does the application include a draft Title VI Compliance Plan and Assurance, or an updated previously approved Plan that was provided to FMCSA OCR for review, comments, and/or edits?

Section D.7. & F.2.

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; and Other Review Information.

Technical Merit The criteria are related to the technical and programmatic merit of an application. FMCSA will consider the extent to which the applications:

• Utilize a data-driven approach to clearly articulate the problem(s) the project(s) seek to address;

• Include components that address specific HP-ETS national priorities;

• Include proposed methodology that meets the stated objectives of the NOFO;

• Propose work that identifies and/or makes progress on new/existing concepts;

• Propose work that fully addresses the national training needs of non-Federal personnel and is based on sound principles to measure performance and gauge project success;

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• Include staffing resource allocations sufficient to achieve the program objectives;

• Demonstrate appropriateness, rationale, and completeness of the proposed statement of project objectives;

• Include clearly identified quantifiable performance objectives and measurements, such as the number and types of courses to be offered, frequency of course offerings, student enrollment targets, pass/fail rates, etc.;

• Represent a diversity of technical approaches and support innovation in course delivery methods;

• Include efforts that are complementary and not duplicative, which, when taken together, will best achieve the programs objectives; and

• Provide different kinds and sizes of organizations to provide a balanced programmatic effort and a variety of different technical perspectives.

Budget/Cost Analysis Criteria Budget-related criteria include: whether costs are allowable in accordance with Federal grant requirements; the appropriateness and reasonableness of the budget estimate; 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 program.

FMCSA will evaluate applications and other information, including, but not limited to, the following:

• 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.

• Costs are allowable, allocable, necessary, and reasonable per 2 CFR Part 200.

• Costs in a particular cost category have been properly identified as allowable, with the necessary detail for its use, and are not duplicative to the other budget line items..

• All equipment, training, and travel components are clearly linked to the project objective(s) and are necessary to adequately compensate, equip, train, and enable personnel to conduct the activities included in the project plan.

• A suspension and debarment review that included a review of the applicant and a check against the records in SAM ensures that the applicant is not suspended or debarred and does not have any unpaid Federal tax liability.