Indian Highway Safety Occupant Protection Grant

The Indian Highway Safety Occupant Protection Grant is administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), under the Office of Justice Services (OJS), through its Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP). The program operates within the U.S. Department of the Interior and is designed to support traffic safety initiatives in tribal communities. The overarching mission of the IHSP is to reduce vehicular crashes, injuries, and fatalities among Native American populations by providing financial assistance that helps enforce and promote traffic safety measures, particularly focusing on occupant protection. This grant specifically targets projects aimed at improving occupant protection, such as increasing seatbelt and child restraint use within tribal lands. This focus aligns with broader national goals to enhance highway safety and reflects a commitment to equity and support for communities that may otherwise face barriers to securing such resources. Funds are reimbursable and exclusively available to federally recognized Native American tribal governments, underscoring the program's dedication to addressing traffic safety concerns in tribal jurisdictions. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, and applications are accepted through a formal submission process. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces the financial burden on eligible tribes and encourages broader participation. The grant opportunity is identified by the funding number BIA-IHSP-2026-003 and is listed under Assistance Listing 20.600—State and Community Highway Safety. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is the categorical funding origin, reflecting federal investment in transportation infrastructure and public safety. Applications must be submitted electronically to the designated email address (indian_highway_safety@bia.gov) by May 1, 2026. The grant cycle was officially posted on January 6, 2026, with the most recent update occurring on January 30, 2026. There are no stated pre-application requirements such as concept papers or letters of intent. The BIA has not provided detailed evaluation criteria or award notification timelines, and the estimated total program funding and number of expected awards have not been specified. Award amounts range from $500 to $90,000, suggesting flexible funding tiers based on project scale and impact. Contact for the grant is Kimberly Belone, Program Analyst (Coordinator), who can be reached at (505) 375-3818. No additional supporting documents or PDF guidelines were provided via direct link. However, all essential application materials and communications are centralized through the provided email contact. As the opportunity does not indicate recurring cycles or multi-year funding, it is assumed to be a one-time application round with no automatic renewal.