2016 Work Zone and Guardrail Safety Training Grants | Apply Online

Work Zone and Guardrail Safety Training Grants (2016) - FAQs

What is the 2016 Work Zone and Guardrail Safety Training Grants opportunity?

It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) designed to support national-level training efforts aimed at reducing injuries and fatalities in highway and roadway work zones, with a related emphasis on guardrail safety.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DTFH6116RA00018.

Which federal agency administered this opportunity?

The opportunity was administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Was this funding opportunity a grant or something else?

The awards were structured as cooperative agreements. This means FHWA expected to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as coordinating on deliverables, reviewing materials, and ensuring alignment with federal priorities, rather than providing funding in a hands-off way.

What was the primary goal of the program?

The core goal was to expand and strengthen national work zone safety training efforts to reduce injuries and fatalities in roadway work zones, while also emphasizing guardrail safety as a related focus area.

How did the program build on previous federal efforts?

The program was intended to build on work previously completed under the Work Zone Safety Grants Program and expand the impact through broader, more standardized training and practical guidance.

What kinds of activities were recipients expected to deliver?

Recipients were expected to provide national-level training for a wide range of workers involved in roadway and highway work zone activities. In addition, recipients were expected to develop usable guidelines covering work zone safety, operational issues, and best practices.

Who was the training intended for?

The training was intended for a wide range of workers involved in roadway and highway work zone activities. The opportunity emphasized national-level reach rather than a limited local or single-agency audience.

What topics were emphasized in the training and guidance?

The emphasis was on reducing injuries and fatalities in highway and roadway work zones, with a related emphasis on guardrail safety. The guidelines were also expected to cover work zone safety, operational issues, and best practices that could be implemented in real-world work zone planning and operations.

Were applicants expected to create written guidelines as part of the project?

Yes. The opportunity emphasized the development of guidelines on work zone safety, operational issues, and best practices. These guidelines were intended to be usable by State and local transportation agencies and other relevant organizations.

How were the guidelines and training connected?

The training was expected to be based on the developed guidelines, linking written best practices to real-world instruction and workforce behavior.

What kinds of organizations were expected to use the developed guidelines?

The guidelines were intended to be usable by State and local transportation agencies and other relevant organizations, to improve how work zones are planned, operated, and managed to protect workers and the traveling public.

What was the maximum funding amount per award?

The maximum funding amount listed per award (award ceiling) was $2,500,000.

How many awards did FHWA anticipate making?

FHWA anticipated making up to 12 awards.

What does it suggest that FHWA anticipated multiple awards?

It suggests FHWA intended to fund multiple organizations or efforts that could address different audiences, regions, or specialized training needs, while still maintaining a national-level impact.

When was the opportunity created and posted?

The opportunity was created and posted on May 11, 2016.

What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was July 5, 2016. The original and current closing dates were the same.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The associated Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) listing was 20.215.

What did the eligibility category say?

Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility specifics referenced as being contained in an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section in the full announcement.

What kinds of entities might be included under "Others" for eligibility?

Based on how "Others" is commonly used in federal notices, it may indicate eligibility beyond only State and local governments, potentially including qualified entities such as nonprofits, universities, professional associations, training institutions, or similar organizations that can develop guidance and deliver national safety training. The full announcement was referenced as the source for the specific eligibility requirements.

What outcomes was the program designed to support?

The program was designed to strengthen consistent, evidence-informed work zone and guardrail safety practices through scalable training and practical guidelines that agencies and industry partners could adopt to help reduce roadway work zone incidents affecting both workers and the traveling public.

What level of federal involvement should recipients have expected?

Because awards were cooperative agreements, recipients should have expected FHWA to be substantially involved during the project period, including coordination on deliverables, review of materials, and ensuring alignment with federal priorities.