Safety Data Improvement Program (20.234)

Program

20.234 Safety Data Improvement Program

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Section 4128, 49 U.S.C 31102.

Program Number

20.234

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The objectives are to fund State programs to improve the overall quality of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) data, specifically to increase the timeliness, efficiency, accuracy and completeness of processes and systems related to the collection and analysis of truck and bus crash and inspection data.

Types of Assistance

Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)

Uses and Use Restrictions

Examples of uses for funding include: hire staff to manage data quality improvement programs, revise outdated crash report forms, hire staff to code and enter safety data, train law enforcement officers in collecting crash data, develop software to transfer data from the State repository SAFETYNET and purchase software for field data collection and data transfer.

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

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

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. Applicants must register with Grants.gov to apply for funding at: www.grants.gov/applicants/get _registered.jsp. Registration with grants.gov may take two to five days before the system will allow access to the grant application package. Applications should be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided and must be submitted electronically to FMCSA through the Grants.gov website.

Award Procedure

An evaluation panel will select award recipients based on an overall application score outlined in the application package, the potential for improvement of national Safety data collection and reporting rates, and the total funding available.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

If basic eligibility criteria are met and funds are available, discussion with potential grantees continues until the project plan is mutually acceptable.

Appeals

Appeals will be considered upon demonstration that the proposal meets SaDIP grant eligibility criteria and the State Safety Data Quality measures have been addressed.

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

Statutory Formula: Title 49, Part 18.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The initial grant period of performance is typically 18 months; grant program extensions are allowable and funds are available until expended. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The recipient shall submit quarterly reports on the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter being reported. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

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. The recipient is responsible for ensuring that independent audits are conducted in accordance with the existing Federal auditing and reporting standards set forth in OMB Circular A-133. The audit report must be submitted to the FMCSA to support the indirect cost proposal.

Records

The recipient shall make available to FMCSA copies of all work developed in performance with the grant, including but not limited to software and data. The FMCSA shall have rights pursuant to 49 CFR Part 18 Section 18.34.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Improve the overall quality of CMV crash and inspection data. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8055-0-7-401.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $3,300,000; FY 09 est $3,000,000; FY 10 est $3,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range $5,000 - $500,000; Average award $250,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Section 4128 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the SaDIP grant opportunity. The legislation provides discretionary funding for States to improve the quality of crash and inspection data for large trucks and buses reported by States to FMCSA, as described in 49 U.S.C. Section 31102. The funding is codified in 49 U.S.C. Section 31104.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Refer to the FMCSA Field Office Roster at the FMCSA website for your FMCSA State Division Office (http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/contact/offices/displayfieldroster.asp).

Headquarters Office

Betsy Benkowski 1200 New Jersey Ave S.E., Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: betsy.benkowski@dot.gov Phone: (202) 366-5387

Web Site Address

E-mail: betsy.benkowski@dot.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The criteria for selecting proposals are defined in the evaluation criteria included with the full application package available on Grants.gov; criteria are based on the defined goals and objectives included in, and the feasibility and cost effectiveness of, the proposed project plan.