Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation Grant

Assist States in complying with CDL requirements and dedicate funding to priority activities for research, development and testing, demonstration projects, public education, and other special activities and projects relating to commercial drivers lic

CDLPI financial assistance funds are awarded through a competitive grant process and no assurance of funding is implied, nor should it be inferred. All applications must advance a public purpose. FMCSA may not award grant funding to individuals for personal gain, such as obtaining the specialized training required for CDL licensing or procuring a commercial motor vehicle. The FMCSA will not award grant funding to a for-profit business that does not improve the national CDL Program and compliance with 49 CFR parts 383 and 384. The FMCSA is prohibited under 49 U.S.C. § 31313(b) from providing grant funds for the purchase, rent, or lease of land or buildings. Unless indicated otherwise, references to the CDLPI grant program priorities include both Basic and High Priority/Emerging Issues activities/projects, with details for each type of CDLPI grant priority focus areas explained in our annual NOFO. All activities are eligible for 100 percent Federal funding.

States may receive grant funds to comply with the requirements of section 31311 of SAFETEA-LU or if making good faith efforts toward substantial compliance with the requirements of section 31311 and 31313 receive grant funds to improve implementation of the commercial driver's license program. States, local governments, and other persons for projects involving research, development, demonstration projects, public education, and other special activities and projects relating to commercial driver licensing and motor vehicle safety that are of benefit to all jurisdictions of the United States or are designed to address national safety concerns and circumstances. States, local governments, and other persons may use grant funds to address emerging issues relating to commercial driver's license improvements.

14 - State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals) 15 - Local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals) 20 - Public nonprofit institution/organization 38 - other private institutions/organizations 39 - anyone/general public

Assist States and ensure State is making a good faith effort toward substantial CDL compliance; improve the State's implementation of its computer hardware and software; pay for publications, testing, personnel, training, quality control, CDL program coordinators; and implement or maintain a system to notify an employer of an operator of a CMV of the suspension or revocation of the operator's CDL. For Priority Activities: Promote activities that benefit all U.S. jurisdictions; address National safety concerns and circumstances; address emerging issues relating to CDL improvements; support innovative ideas and solutions to CDL issues; or other CDL issues as determined by FMCSA.

The maximum period of performance for a grant is year of award plus an additional four fiscal years. All new application proposals will be evaluated to ensure that proposed projects can be achieved within the requested timeframe. There is no mandatory minimum grant duration. Amendment requests to extend the period of performance beyond the period of availability described above will not be approved.

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants must register with Grants.gov to apply for funding. Applications should be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided and must be submitted electronically to FMCSA through the Grants.gov website.

All discretionary (competitive) grant program applications undergo a series of reviews prior to award selection as required in 2 CFR §§ 200.204 and 205. These reviews include: 1) technical review that provides an independent assessment of the technical/programmatic merit of an application. At least three qualified individuals are selected to review each application to ensure diversity of perspective and knowledge. Individuals are selected based on their technical education and experience and the extent to which the individual has engaged in relevant work, the capacities in which the individual has done so, and the quality of such work; 2) suitability review that provides a risk assessment on each applicant's organization to ensure the applicant is suitable to receive and manage Federal funds. The risk assessment is conducted in several parts: 1) a debarment and suspension review that included a review of the applicant's administrative capability self-certification and a check against the applicant's records in the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov); 2) a review of the applicant's history with other Federal agencies in the Single Audit Clearinghouse Database; and 3) an evaluation of the applicant's Single Audit in accordance with the Single Audit Act; 3) past performance review that provides information that is considered as a possible indicator for predicting future performance. Many applicants for FMCSA programs have received FMCSA funding in the past and will be evaluated against their ability to complete prior year awards on-time, compliance with grant terms and conditions, and results from FMCSA grant monitoring activities. Applicants with no prior FMCSA grant awards will not be eliminated from funding consideration; and 4) budget/cost analysis that provides an assessment of allowable costs in accordance with Federal grant requirements, the cost realism of the budget estimate, appropriateness and reasonableness of resources, and reasonableness and feasibility of the schedule relative to the application timeline. Importantly, the budget evaluation provides initial insight to project-related risk, beyond those dealing with technical uncertainty, which is considered prior to recommendation. Application budgets are evaluated based on the same standards to which recipients will be held after award, which are outlined in the cost principles at 2 CFR part 200.101(c) Subpart E for all non-Federal entities, including commercial organizations.

90-120 days of the submission deadline (subject to availability of funds) or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable. Applicants must register with the System of Awards Management and with Grants.gov to apply for funding. Applications should be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided and must be submitted electronically to FMCSA through the Grants.gov website.

From 90 to 120 days

Grant period of performance may be extended without additional funding according to the requirements of the FMCSA Financial Assistance Agreement General Provisions and Assurance and other applicable OMB Circulars and Federal law. Continuation awards or grants are not available.

Formal protests are not an option; unsuccessful applicants are notified in writing and may request a debriefing.