FOSTERING LEADERSHIP TO FACILITATE IMPAIRED DRIVING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Fostering Leadership to Facilitate Impaired Driving System Improvement" opportunity?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The purpose is to strengthen how states prevent and reduce impaired driving, with particular attention to states or locations experiencing high numbers or high rates of alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

What problem is this funding trying to solve?

The opportunity is built around the idea that lasting reductions in impaired driving crashes and fatalities do not come from isolated projects or a single agency acting alone. Instead, the focus is on sustained leadership and long-term coordination across the full impaired driving "system" so strategies, operations, and accountability stay aligned over time.

What is the main approach NHTSA wants states to implement?

NHTSA intends to implement and refine a leadership-driven, statewide system-improvement model that was developed and pilot tested with the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Under this opportunity, the model would be implemented in up to two additional states and then refined so it can be replicated elsewhere.

What is the central deliverable or outcome expected from this project?

The expected outcome is a refined, field-tested leadership and governance model that other states can adopt to improve coordination, identify and close system gaps, and ultimately reduce alcohol-impaired driving deaths and injuries.

What does NHTSA mean by an "impaired driving system"?

In this announcement, the impaired driving system includes the multiple agencies and partners that influence impaired driving prevention and response. Examples mentioned include transportation, law enforcement, courts, corrections, public health, licensing, and prevention partners, along with relevant private stakeholders.

What is the role of the statewide impaired driving (DWI) task force?

The task force is intended to be a permanent, institutionalized statewide body with real authority and continuity. It is expected to identify gaps in the state's impaired driving system, secure resources to address gaps, implement improvements, and oversee progress on an ongoing basis.

Why does the opportunity emphasize making the task force permanent and institutionalized?

The emphasis reflects the goal of continuity over time. Rather than short-term activities, NHTSA is aiming for an enduring coordinating body that can keep cross-agency strategy and accountability aligned beyond a single initiative or project period.

Who is expected to participate in the task force?

The task force is expected to include decision-makers from multiple parts of state government and relevant private stakeholders. The intent is to include participants who can coordinate across agencies and contribute authority, resources, expertise, or operational support.

What are the three steps of the leadership model described in the opportunity?

The model is described as a three-step process: (1) the state completes a NHTSA-administered impaired driving assessment to establish a baseline and evaluate the current comprehensive system; (2) the state uses the assessment results to convene a permanent statewide task force to interpret findings, identify priority deficiencies, and build a shared improvement agenda; and (3) strong, carefully selected task force leadership is put in place to drive collaboration, prioritize recommendations, and oversee implementation over time.

What is the impaired driving assessment and who administers it?

The assessment is a NHTSA-administered impaired driving assessment used to evaluate a state's comprehensive impaired driving system and establish a baseline for improvement efforts.

How are assessment results expected to be used?

The assessment results are intended to guide the task force in interpreting findings, identifying priority deficiencies, and building a shared agenda for system improvements.

What does NHTSA expect from task force leadership?

Leadership is treated as the key mechanism that makes the system improvement effort work and endure. The leader or leadership team is expected to convene and coordinate across agencies, break through institutional silos, engage appropriate private sector organizations, prioritize recommendations, and oversee implementation over time.

Is high-level political support required or recommended?

High-level political backing is described as a critical component. The announcement cites the governor as an example of the kind of support expected, indicating that senior state leadership endorsement is important for the model to function effectively.

Does the project focus on a few activities or on long-term system change?

The stated objective is long-term system change. The opportunity describes creating a repeatable process that helps a state identify shortcomings, develop strategies, mobilize support, and continuously oversee a comprehensive impaired driving program, rather than simply running isolated activities.

What type of federal award is this?

The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial federal involvement. Applicants are expected to work closely with NHTSA throughout the project and commit to implementing each component of the model as presented.

What does "cooperative agreement" imply for how the project will be run?

Based on the announcement language, it implies more direct federal participation than a hands-off grant. The state is expected to work closely with NHTSA, and NHTSA expects strong commitment to the model and project collaboration throughout implementation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to state governments.

How many awards did NHTSA anticipate making?

NHTSA anticipated making up to two awards.

What is the total estimated funding amount for this opportunity?

The total estimated funding listed is $2,000,000.

What are the award floor and ceiling amounts?

Both the award floor and award ceiling are shown as $2,000,000, indicating the opportunity was structured to fully fund a limited number of large model-implementation projects rather than many smaller awards.

Is cost sharing or a match required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated. However, applicants are still expected to demonstrate strong financial and in-kind support at the state level, along with the capacity to sustain the work.

What does NHTSA expect states to contribute if there is no stated match requirement?

The announcement indicates applications should demonstrate meaningful resource commitment, including financial and in-kind support, and show capacity to sustain the work. In other words, even without a stated match, NHTSA expects the state to bring real resources and long-term commitment.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DTNH22-09-R-00217.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA is 20.614 (NHTSA Discretionary Safety Grants).

How is the activity category described in the opportunity?

The activity category is described as Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting that the project includes testing, refining, and validating a transferable improvement model.

Which state was involved in developing and pilot testing the model?

The model was developed and pilot tested with the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

How many additional states did NHTSA plan to implement the model in under this opportunity?

NHTSA intended to implement the model in up to two additional states.

What kinds of partners outside government are mentioned?

The announcement refers to engaging appropriate private sector organizations as relevant private stakeholders that can contribute resources, expertise, or operational support to impaired driving solutions.

What are the key dates listed in the announcement?

The original solicitation timeline listed a posted date of March 18, 2009, a closing date updated to May 29, 2009, and an archived date of June 10, 2009.

Is this opportunity presented as current or as part of an older solicitation?

The dates in the announcement reflect an original 2009 solicitation timeline and indicate the opportunity was archived on June 10, 2009.