Innovative Traffic Safety Enforcement (ITSE) Grant Program

The Innovative Traffic Safety Enforcement Grant Program is a Federal discretionary grant administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an operating administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. NHTSA's mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce economic costs resulting from road traffic crashes through education, research, safety standards, and enforcement activity. The ITSE Grant Program supports innovative research and development, demonstration, training, and education activities intended to reduce crashes involving fatalities and serious injuries. The program focuses on drug impaired driving, alcohol impaired driving, speeding, aggressive driving, occupant protection, distracted driving, and careless and negligent driving, especially around work zones, commercial motor vehicles, school zones, and congested areas. The primary objectives are to develop innovative traffic safety enforcement programs that demonstrate effectiveness in reducing motor vehicle crashes associated with risky driving behaviors and to ensure successful programs are repeatable and scalable for use by law enforcement throughout the United States. Applicants must identify the specific focus area or areas addressed by the proposed project and provide an evidence-based, data-driven rationale supported by research and crash characteristics. Projects may include data-driven traffic enforcement operational models, law enforcement training and education, community-based enforcement initiatives, enforcement technologies, in-vehicle technologies, predictive analytics, risk modeling, and artificial intelligence. Applicants using artificial intelligence or related practices should clearly describe the proposed use. Digital enforcement tools, predictive analytics, and AI models developed under the grant should use interoperable digital standards. Up to $20,000,000 is anticipated for the program, subject to the availability of funds. NHTSA anticipates approximately 8 to 15 awards, with an anticipated award range of $500,000 to $2,000,000 each, although NHTSA reserves discretion to change minimum and maximum award sizes after reviewing the application pool and project needs. Cost sharing or matching is not required, although applicants may augment Federal funds with other Federal, State, local, or private resources and must disclose such resources in the budget plan. Costs must comply with applicable Federal cost principles. Funds may not be used for prohibited lobbying activities. Awards are also subject to Buy America requirements and restrictions involving covered telecommunications technology. NHTSA anticipates that funded efforts will be completed no later than 60 months from the date of each award. Eligible applicants include State or local agencies, authorities, associations, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations that demonstrate the organizational capacity and experience necessary to administer, coordinate, and implement the proposed activities. The Grants.gov listing further identifies State governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, and public, State-controlled, and private institutions of higher education. Applicants must demonstrate relevant organizational experience, qualified personnel, sufficient resources, and the ability to perform the proposed work. Applicants must be registered in SAM before applying, provide a valid UEI, and maintain an active SAM registration as required. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and may not be submitted by email or other means. The application includes a one-page cover page, an application narrative of no more than 20 pages, and required submissions. The narrative consists of applicant background, a project plan, and a budget plan. The project plan must identify the applicable focus areas and include a detailed work breakdown structure, implementation approach, milestones, performance targets, timeline, staffing plan, quality control approach, risk mitigation strategy, and necessary travel. The budget must identify Federal and non-Federal funding sources, detailed annual costs and subcategories, in-kind costs where applicable, and justification showing that costs are fair and reasonable. Required forms and certifications include SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, a certified drug-free workplace statement, a lobbying certification, and SF-LLL when required. Applicants must also address applicable conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements. NHTSA first reviews applications for responsiveness, eligibility, registration compliance, and required application contents. Eligible applications undergo merit review addressing Technical Approach and Understanding, Organizational Capacity, and Organizational Experience, with Cost/Budget Review serving as a selection consideration. Applications may receive ratings of Highly Recommended, Recommended, Acceptable, or Not Recommended. Among projects of similar merit, NHTSA may prioritize projects based on stated Department and Administration selection considerations, including innovation. A Senior Review Team determines which applications advance for consideration, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary makes the final selection. Selected applicants are also subject to a pre-award risk assessment addressing matters such as financial stability, management systems, past performance, audit findings, and ability to implement Federal requirements. The NOFO was posted August 3, 2026. Phase one questions were due August 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, and phase one applications are due September 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The NOFO identifies additional evaluation deadlines of March 1, 2027 and September 1, 2027, with applications received after a phase deadline held for the following evaluation phase, subject to available funds. NHTSA anticipates making awards on a rolling basis during the open application period and may close the application period if funds become unavailable or fully obligated. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing no later than 30 days after award announcements. Award recipients are subject to quarterly progress reporting, annual Federal financial reporting, performance measurement requirements, and a final report. Questions regarding the NOFO may be directed to Anoko Zankli at Anoko.Zankli.Ctr@dot.gov, with Gregory Benjamin II at Gregory.Benjamin@dot.gov as the additional agency contact.

Explicitly identify the focus area or areas and support each selection with data and research. Demonstrate a clear evidence-based and data-driven approach tied to reduced crashes, fatalities, and serious injuries. Define clear objectives and measurable performance metrics and explain data collection and evaluation methods that support future replication. Provide a comprehensive and logical project plan with milestones, staffing, quality control, risk mitigation, and realistic timelines. Demonstrate relevant organizational experience and qualified personnel. Keep cost information in the budget plan rather than the project plan and justify each cost as fair and reasonable. Address the merit and selection criteria directly and ensure all required Federal forms, certifications, SAM registration, and UEI requirements are complete before submission.