Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (20.237)

Program

20.237 Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

Authorization

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act�a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA LU), Section 4123, Public Law 109-59.

Program Number

20.237

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) Program is a key component of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration�s (FMCSA) drive to improve commercial motor vehicle safety, and is directly aligned with both the United States Department of Transportation�s (U.S. DOT) and FMCSA�s performance goals. The goals and objectives for the CVISN program include:
�Improve highway safety and security � CVISN will enable safety inspectors to target their resources on the highest risk carriers, drivers, and vehicles. These changes are expected to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents that involve commercial vehicles. CVISN also will support future initiatives in security, recognizing that homeland security is a more critical issue for the nation�s transportation system.
�Streamline credentials and tax administration � CVISN will enable government agencies and motor carriers to conduct business transactions electronically, enabling reduced administrative costs, paperwork, and time.
�Reduce congestion costs for motor carriers � Automated vehicle screening systems will reduce congestion and delays at weigh stations and international border crossings. These changes are expected to improve freight mobility and reduce delivery costs.
�Ensure regulatory compliance and equitable treatment � Motor carrier compliance with credentials and tax regulations is expected to increase as the process is made less burdensome by CVISN. In addition, automated screening systems and better targeted safety inspections are expected to catch a greater number of non-compliant or unsafe drivers. As all carriers are brought into regulatory compliance, the playing field industry-wide will become more level.

The CVISN Program supports these goals by focusing safety enforcement on high-risk operators; integrating data systems to improve the accuracy, integrity, and verifiability of credentials; improving efficiency through electronic screening of commercial vehicles; and enabling on-line application and issuance of credentials.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

No more than $100,000 in Core CVISN grants may be used to develop a Core CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design. Core CVISN Deployment funds must be used to implement projects in accordance with a State�s FMCSA approved Core CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design. No more than $100,000 in Expanded CVISN grants may be used to develop a Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design. Expanded CVISN projects must be in accordance with a State�s FMCSA-approved Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Designs. Besides using Expanded CVISN grant funds for Expanded CVISN projects, States may use Expanded CVISN grant funds to augment/redeploy Core CVISN capabilities, and/or to deploy multi-state initiatives. No more than $100,000 in Core CVISN grants may be used to develop a Core CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design. Core CVISN Deployment funds must be used to implement projects in accordance with a State�s FMCSA approved Core CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design. No more than $100,000 in Expanded CVISN grants may be used to develop a Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants include State Departments of Public Safety, Departments of Transportation, or State Law Enforcement Agencies in any of the fifty States and the District of Columbia. The State agency must clearly articulate a goal that is related to the quality of State CMV crash and inspection data. Project objectives must be clearly articulated, time-limited, action-oriented, measurable and achievable. Project plans must include performance measures for monitoring the improvement in the quality of State-reported CMV safety data.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Federal, State and local entities are the beneficiary.

Credentials/Documentation

�Core CVISN - In order to be eligible to use these funds, a state must have a FMCSA-accepted Core CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design.
�Expanded CVISN - In order to be eligible to use these funds, a state must have a FMCSA-accepted Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design and be able to demonstrate when it will be certified as being Core CVISN Compliant. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. A State CVISN Team/CVISN Program Manager is responsible for the following steps in the application process:
�Complete required CVISN planning documentation.
-Core CVISN Program Plan/Top-Level Design accepted by FMCSA for states in Planning/Deployment Phase; and
-Expanded CVISN Program Plan/Top-Level Design accepted by FMCSA for Core CVISN Compliant states.
�Download the CVISN application package and instructions from grants.gov.
�Complete the OMB standard forms and FY 2009 CVISN Grant Application.
�Forward completed FY 2009 CVISN Deployment Grant Application to state's FMCSA Division Administrator (DA) for preliminary review.
�Upload the final FY 2009 CVISN Deployment Grant Application package to grants.gov before the July 15, 2009 deadline, and notify the FMCSA HQ. The following documents also must be attached (via the �Attachments� standard form) to the application package prior to submission:
-Approval letter received from the DA; and
-Latest quarterly progress reports for previously received Federal CVISN Deployment grant.
�Review and sign a CVISN Deployment Program Agreement.
-CVISN Deployment Program Agreement will be drafted by FMCSA and forwarded to State CVISN Program Manager by state's FMCSA Division Administrator.
�Complete an Automated Clearing House (ACH) Payment Form, SF 3881, if the grant recipient desires direct deposit for reimbursements of expenditures and (i) has not previously filled out such a form or (ii) has changed its bank account for direct deposits.
�Submit requests for reimbursement of expenditures to the FMCSA Division Administrator (or a designee) for review and recommendation for payment.
-FMCSA Division Administrator will notify state CVISN Program Manager when requests for reimbursement can be submitted.
-FMCSA Division Administrator will notify state CVISN Program Manager of the project code that must be referenced on the requests for reimbursement.

Award Procedure

The FMCSA Division Administrator is responsible for the following steps in the award process:
�Review state�s Core and/or Expanded CVISN Program Plan/Top-Level Design documents.
�Provide a preliminary review regarding the merits of his/her state�s CVISN Deployment Grant Application (e.g., whether proposed projects have merit from a state/local perspective).
�Provide a letter stating that the Grant Application has been reviewed and approved.
�Receive final draft of CVISN Program Agreement from FMCSA HQ and forward it to state CVISN Program Manager for review.
�Coordinate between the state CVISN Program Manager and FMCSA Technology Division regarding the state�s comments to the CVISN Program Agreement (if necessary).
�Ensure state�s CVISN Program Agreement is signed by an authorized entity within the state.
�Sign final version of state�s CVISN Program Agreement.
�Forward signed version of state�s final CVISN Program Agreement to FMCSA HQ.
�Notify the state CVISN Program Manager when the grant funds have been posted to the U.S. DOT Delphi accounting system and requests for reimbursement may be processed.
�Notify the state CVISN Program Manager of the project code associated with the grant.
�Review requests for reimbursements and indicate recommendation for payment.
-Requests for reimbursements that have been recommended for payment may be optically scanned and e-mailed to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Financial Operations/Accounts Payable Office (based in Oklahoma City) or sent to the FAA Liaison to FMCSA.
�Continue to monitor the progress of the state�s CVISN program and ensure that the state is fulfilling its portion of the match requirement. Also ensure that the state submits quarterly progress reports, as required by the CVISN Program Agreement.
The FMCSA Headquarters (HQ) is responsible for the following steps in the award process:
�Review and accept states� Core and/or Expanded CVISN Program Plan/Top-Level Design documents.
�Review a state�s CVISN Grant Application package.
�Draft a CVISN Program Agreement, and if necessary, obtain a legal review of the Agreement from FMCSA Office of Chief Counsel.
�Forward final draft of state�s CVISN Program Agreement to state�s FMCSA Division Administrator.
�Prepare a memorandum to request that the FAA Liaison to the FMCSA Financial Operations/Accounts Payable Office (MC-MBF) to establish an obligation for the state (for the amount specified in the CVISN Program Agreement) in the U.S. DOT Delphi accounting system for the purpose of paying requests for reimbursement. The memorandum must be signed by the Director, FMCSA Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology and include the following:
-Copy of the signed CVISN Program Agreement attached with the CVISN grant application;
-Project code. The project code is assigned in accordance with the FMCSA Grants Management Manual;
-Information about the state�s grant recipient point of contact (name, address, and city); and
-Copy of the completed automated clearinghouse (ACH) payment form (if the state is a new CVISN grant recipient or if a state desires to change the bank account into which reimbursement payments are directly deposited).
�Send a copy of the FAA obligation request memorandum (with the signed ACH payment form, Grant Obligation Checklist, and a hardcopy of the CVISN Program Agreement with the original signatures as the only attachments) to FAA Accounts Payable Staff.
�Check to see if the obligation has been posted in the U.S. DOT Delphi accounting system.
�Notify the FMCSA Division Administrator when an account has been established in U.S. DOT Delphi accounting system for the grant funds.
Members of the FMCSA, FHWA, and FAA accounting, legal, and acquisitions departments also will play key roles in the grant management process.

Deadlines

Jul 15, 2009

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Renewals or request for extensions to the grant period of performance can be made through the FMCSA State Division Offices.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 50.%. Matching Funds:
SAFETEA LU dictates that Federal CVISN deployment funds may not be used to fund more than 50 percent of a project�s total budget. As such, if a State wishes to apply for $1,000,000 in Federal CVISN funding for which it is eligible, it must identify $1,000,000 in state or private-sector funding that can be used to match the Federal contribution. FMCSA�s match requirements are very flexible and allow states to include many types of funds as match. Federal CVISN match sources may be:
�Direct � funds/resources that offset the costs of the specific project towards which the grant is applied; or
�Indirect � funds/resources that are related to the State�s CVISN program but do not offset the costs associated with the specific project towards which the grant is applied.
Eligible sources of direct matching funds include:
�State/private sector funds applied to the project funded by the Federal CVISN Deployment Grant;
�State-funded staff salaries associated with the Federally-funded project (e.g., project management, subject matter experts, developer/IT resources); and
�State-funded capital expenses for the Federally-funded project (e.g., hardware/software, roadside equipment, e-screening equipment).
Eligible sources of indirect matching funds include:
�State/private sector funds associated with another CVISN project;
�Staff salaries associated with another CVISN project (e.g., CVISN program management, project management, subject matter experts, developer/IT resources); and
�Capital expenses associated with another CVISN project (e.g., hardware/software, roadside equipment, e-screening equipment).
At this time, the following may not be used as match towards a Federal CVISN Deployment Grant:
�Monies received from other Federal programs (e.g., MCSAP, PRISM, SaDIP, Border Enforcement, CDL);
�Toll credits; and
�Funds/resources previously used as match towards another Federal grant.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The funds are available for expenditure for as long as the period of performance stipulated in the grant agreement negotiated between the state and its FMCSA State Administrator. The funds are "NO-YEAR" money; they do not expire. If a state wants to use the funds after the period of performance, it may do so after it negotiates a no-cost extension of the grant agreement with its FMCSA State Administrator. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. State grant recipients must provide quarterly progress reports to FMCSA. One electronic file of the quarterly progress report must be submitted to the state�s FMCSA Division Administrator, and the FMCSA Office of Research and Technology, Technology Division on or before the 20th of the month following the end of the quarter being reported. At a minimum, the quarterly reports must be completed using forms SF-PPR and SF-269 and containing the following:
�The project number, project name, a brief description of the project, major project partners, names and phone numbers of the partners� project contacts, and the reporting period.
�Budget and scheduling information, including the date the project was initiated, the estimated completion date, cost estimate, and expenditures during the reporting period.
�A brief description of the activities conducted during the reporting period, including any milestones attained and significant events.
�A discussion of any problems encountered or anticipated (e.g., scope changes, changes in project limits, funding requirements, technological constraints, institutional issues, project schedule delays) together with recommended solutions to such problems. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

No audits are required for this program.

Records

Upon request, the State will provide copies of technical documents and/or procurement documents to FMCSA.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Since the inception of the Federal CVISN grant program in 2006, 80 grants were awarded and $60,547,563 in funds were expended.
It is anticipated that 35 applications will be received and 35 awards will be granted in Fiscal Year 2009. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8158-0-0-000.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $22,500,000; FY 09 est $25,000,000; FY 10 est not reported. - FY 2010 information is currently not known.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

State�s eligibility for CVISN deployment funding is based on the Federal funds it received for its CVISN program under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), and SAFETEA-LU as well as its current CVISN deployment status. Awards range from $100,000 to $3,500,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

References:
�Core and Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design Templates can be obtained from FMCSA�s website at: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/cvisn/document-library.htm or by contacting the Technology Division � see below for contact information.
�CVISN Guides (available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/cvisn/document-library.htm )

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. States may contact their states� FMCSA�s Division Administrator.

Headquarters Office

Julie Lane 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: julie.lane@dot.gov Phone: (202) 385-2391 Fax: (202) 385-2422

Web Site Address

http://http:www.fmcsa.dot.gov

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Typical projects funded under this program will include:
�Develop and deploy automated credentialing for International Registration Plan (IRP);
�Develop and deploy automated credentialing for International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA);
�Develop and deploy a Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window (CVIEW);
�Develop Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top Level Design; and
�Deploy Driver Information Sharing functionality. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

.�Consistency with the national ITS and CVISN architecture and standards;
�Consistency with Program Plan and Top Level Design approved by FMCSA;
�Agreement to incorporate interoperability and efficiency to the extent practicable; and
�Agree with reporting and programming oversight requirements contained in CVISN deployment program agreement.