Alcohol Traffic Safety and Drunk Driving Prevention Incentive Grants (20.601)

Program

20.601 Alcohol Traffic Safety and Drunk Driving Prevention Incentive Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Authorization

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of 2004, Section 2007, Public Law 109-59, 23 U.S.C 410.

Program Number

20.601

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To encourage States to adopt effective programs to reduce crashes resulting from persons driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Incentive grant funds are available to States to implement effective programs to reduce drunk and drugged driving, in compliance with established criteria.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. States are provided with two alternative means to qualify for a Section 410 grant. Under the first alternative, States may qualify as a low fatality rate State if they have an alcohol-related fatality rate of 0.5 or less per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Under the second alternative, States may qualify as a programmatic State if they demonstrate that they meet three of eight grant criteria for fiscal year 2006, four of eight grant criteria for fiscal year 2007, and five of eight grant criteria for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. Qualifying under both alternatives would not entitle the State to receive additional grant funds. SAFETEA-LU directs that States with low alcohol-related fatality rates, based on the agency's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), be awarded grants without the need to satisfy any of these programmatic criteria. There is also an additional Section 410 grant available to assist the 10 States with the highest impaired driving related fatalities as determined by the most recent FARS data.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State Highway Safety Agency.

Credentials/Documentation

State submits certification and application that it meets eligibility requirements; after being informed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it is eligible for a grant, State submits to the agency a plan that describes the programs the State will implement using the funds. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. State submits certification and application that it meets eligibility requirements; after being informed that it is eligible for a grant, State submits to the agency a plan that describes the programs the State will implement using the funds.

Award Procedure

The State submits information that reflects its eligibility for the award based on the criteria for which it is applying. NHTSA staff review the information to determine the eligibility of the State. If the State is deemed eligible to receive an award, it will be notified by the Region and will also receive an official letter of award from the NHTSA Administrator. The release of grant funds shall be subject to the availability of funds for that fiscal year.

Deadlines

Aug 01, 2009 Applications would be required to be submitted to the agency no later than August 1 of the fiscal year in which the States are applying for grant funds.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days. Applicant should receive a response, from the agency, between 30 to 90 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

States are eligible for up to 4 years under the 410 program. Certification and plan must be approved each year.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred. All participants have converted to the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. Funds placed in obligation are available until expended. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual program plan for next year's funding. No cash reports are required. a progress report on the prior year's program and accomplishments is required. SF-269. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records relating to the program shall be retained for a period not less than 3 years from the date of submission of final financial report.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Implementation of impaired driving activities found in the Programmatic Criteria section, as well as costs for high visibility enforcement; the costs of training and equipment for law enforcement; the costs of advertising and educational campaigns that publicize checkpoints, increase law enforcement efforts and target impaired drivers under 34 years of age; the costs of a State impaired operator information system, and the costs of vehicle or license plate impoundment.In FY 2008, 43 states and Puerto Rico received grants. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8020-0-7-401.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $130,500,000; FY 09 est not reported.; FY 10 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$500,000 to $12,800,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

23 CFR Part 1313.

Related Programs

20.600 State and Community Highway Safety

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regional office addresses.

Headquarters Office

Ann Burton 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., NTI-140, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: national911@dot.gov Phone: (202) 366-3485

Web Site Address

www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Driving while intoxicated (DWI) prevention programs with special emphasis on law enforcement of drunk driving laws and public awareness, advertising and education about such laws; police training in a variety of drunk and impaired driving issues; and the procurement of technology and equipment, including video equipment, and passive alcohol sensors. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

States must meet criteria established by statute and regulation including, for example, prompt license suspension for drunk driving, mandatory sentencing for repeat drunk driving offenders and self-sustaining drunk driving prevention programs.