Indian Highway Safety Grant - Lifesavers Conference

The Indian Highway Safety Grant - Lifesavers Conference is administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), specifically through the Office of Justice Services (OJS) under its Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP). The BIA operates within the U.S. Department of the Interior and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, promoting economic opportunity, and maintaining or improving the safety of tribal communities. The IHSP component is focused on traffic safety among Native American communities, where vehicular accidents have a significant impact on public health and safety. This particular funding opportunity supports federally recognized Native American tribal governments in implementing traffic safety programs and initiatives. The emphasis is on reducing motor vehicle-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries in tribal areas. A central component of this initiative is the Lifesavers Conference, a national event dedicated to advancing roadway safety through training, technical assistance, and peer-to-peer learning. The grant is designed to cover expenses related to attending this conference, which serves as a platform for sharing best practices and learning about innovative traffic safety strategies. The funding instrument type is a grant, with no cost-sharing or matching requirements. The award ceiling is set at $5,000 and the floor at $650, allowing for partial or full coverage of attendance-related costs depending on applicant needs and proposal quality. The estimated number of awards is 25, though the total program funding amount has not been disclosed. Reimbursement is the primary mechanism, meaning tribes must incur expenses and submit proof for reimbursement in line with allowable cost rules. Eligibility is strictly limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments. This ensures that funds are directed toward communities most directly impacted and aligns with the IHSP’s mission of supporting tribal self-determination and sovereignty in public safety matters. Applications must be submitted electronically by March 10, 2026. The original closing date was March 1, later extended to provide additional preparation time. No pre-application requirements such as LOIs or concept papers are noted. Applicants should submit their proposals through the Grants.gov portal. The application process likely involves basic organizational documentation, a budget, and a brief narrative explaining the intended benefits of conference attendance for their community’s traffic safety goals. While the detailed evaluation criteria are not outlined, proposals will presumably be assessed based on their alignment with IHSP goals and the capacity of the applicant to implement acquired knowledge in their communities. For assistance, applicants may contact Kimberly Belone, Program Analyst and Coordinator for the Indian Highway Safety Program, via phone at (505) 375-3818 or email at ojs_Indian_Highway_Safety@bia.gov. The application window is currently open and will close on March 10, 2026. There is no evidence of recurring issuance, but if the conference is annual and the program has historical precedent, it may be offered again. No PDF version of the grant solicitation was found in the source.