Request for Applications

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), provides funding for this grant opportunity. This IIJA/BIL Act authorizes and provides funds for the federal surface transportation programs including highway safety programs. Applications must be able to identify a highway safety issue supported by data, establish baseline and evaluation measures and detail how the project will influence one or more of the core performance measures.

Purpose: 

Funds are awarded to agencies, organizations, and tribal governments within the State of Colorado that provide programs, projects, services, and strategies that are intended to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries resulting from traffic crashes on Colorado roads.

The proposed projects must impact at least one of the following core performance measures, year over year:

• C-1 - Reduce the number of traffic fatalities
• C-2 - Reduce the number of serious injuries in traffic crashes
• C-3 - Reduce the fatalities per Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
• C-4 - Reduce the number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities, all seat positions
• C-5 - Reduce the number of fatalities in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .08 and above
• C-6 - Reduce the number of speeding-related fatalities
• C-7 - Reduce the number of motorcyclist fatalities
• C-8 - Reduce the number of unhelmeted motorcyclist fatalities
• C-9 - Reduce the number of drivers age 20 or younger involved in fatal crashes
• C-10 - Reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities
• C-11 - Reduce the number of bicyclist fatalities
• C-12 - Reduce the number distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes
• C-13 - Reduce the number of drivers age 65 and older involved in fatal crashes
• C-14 - Reduce the number of fatalities in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator testing positive for +> 5ng of Delta. 9 THC

Estimated Average Grant Amount: $50,000-$150,000 per year

Anticipated Funding Available: $10 million per year

Estimated Number of Grants to be funded: 75

Grant Period: This application is for a three-year grant period, consisting of three grant funding cycles - each running from on or after Oct. 1, through Sept. 30 of the following calendar year. The first year grant cycle will begin on or after Oct. 1, 2023. Funding for the second and third years in the three-year funding cycle will be based on grantee’s satisfactory performance, grantee’s adherence to the program specifications, the availability of funding, and the grantee’s successful submission of required second and third year application and budget updates. The Highway Safety Office (HSO) reserves the right to increase or decrease the award levels and scope of individual grant agreements during the grant period, and/or reconfigure the program model at any time during any grant funding cycle.

Eligible Applicants:

• Colorado state agencies
• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Cities, counties and their sub-agencies
• For Profit entities
• Non-profit entities with existing IRS 501 (c) (3) status

Funding Type: CDOT funds grants on a “cost reimbursement” basis only. CDOT will not make payments in advance or in anticipation of goods or services. Expenses incurred prior to Purchase Order or Grant Agreement execution are not eligible for reimbursement. These funds cannot be used to supplant (replace) dollars that would, in the absence of these federal funds, be made available for the proposed project; however, they may enhance or expand an existing program funded from other sources.

• January 18, 2023: Funding webinar
• February 1, 2023: Release date for RFA
• March 17, 2023 by 5 p.m.: Applications due
• By May 5, 2023: Notification of funding decisions sent
• May 15, 2023: Reconsideration requests due
• May 22, 2023: Notification of final reconsideration decisions
• Project start date is on or after Oct. 1, 2023

Application Submittal

HSO must receive applications by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023. Applications must be submitted electronically through the E Grants System.

Request for Application (RFA) Guides

All applicants must use the guides to create applications as there have been changes since the last funding cycle. These guides mirror the application form in the E-Grants system. Please refer to Request for Application Guides resources linked above.

Step One: All applications will undergo a technical review by HSO Program staff. This screening assesses timeliness, completeness, eligibility, and verification that applications meet the requirements for funding.

Step Two: Applications that pass the technical review will be reviewed and scored by subject matter experts (SMEs) at the HSO and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Applications will be reviewed against identified statewide problem areas as detailed in the Colorado Problem Identification Report and as supported by local, relevant data. The application must clearly define how the proposed project or activities will have an impact on at least one of the 14 Core Performance Measures. Applications that do not demonstrate a clear need for the proposed project based on information outlined in the Colorado Problem Identification Report or reputable local data sources will be screened out and will not be scored. The remaining applications will be scored to assess how well the proposed project aligns with known best practices, or emerging practices with demonstrated success, for motor vehicle safety programming, the ability to impact the identified performance measure and targeted population, and the ability to measure the performance and impact.

Step Three: Individual scores and funding recommendations will be reviewed and HSO Management staff will make final funding decisions. The HSO reserves the right to award funds based on funding availability and other variables at its discretion.

Reconsideration Process: A large number of applications are anticipated and scoring criteria will be strictly adhered to, all requests may not be funded. Specific reasons for denial of funding will be sent to applicants by May 5, 2023. If you wish to submit a request for reconsideration of a funding denial, you must do so through email to Darrell Lingk at [email protected].

Reconsideration requests must be received May 15, 2023. Requests must include the application number and a statement of the reasons for the reconsideration request. Reconsideration decisions of the Director of the Office of Transportation Safety will be final and will be sent to those requesting reconsideration by May 22, 2023.

Proprietary Information: All applications and accompanying documentation become the property of CDOT and will not be returned. 

Nondiscrimination: All federal and state nondiscrimination laws, regulations and policies must be followed during the performance of the project agreement. 

Notice of Debarment: Applicant shall promptly notify CDOT of any debarment. Those submitting grant applications must notify CDOT if they are presently or have ever been debarred, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in transactions by any federal or state department or agency. Failure to notify CDOT of debarment, ineligibility or exclusion will result in immediate cancellation of the project agreement and any grant monies received must be returned to CDOT. 

Right of Inspection: Grantees shall provide right of access to its facilities to CDOT or to any other authorized agent or official of the state of Colorado or the federal government at all reasonable times in order to monitor and evaluate performance. 

Responsiveness: All Applications will be reviewed by CDOT to determine compliance with administrative requirements. Failure to comply with the instructions in the grant Application could result in rejection of the Application. CDOT reserves the right, however, to waive minor administrative irregularities.

Application Costs: CDOT is not liable for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting an Application in response to this grant notice. Further, costs associated with Application preparation and/or postage may not be considered as “matching funds” for the purposes of a grant Application.

Insurance Coverage: The State of Colorado requires specific insurance coverage(s) for organizations contracting with the State.