Tribal Transportation Safety Strategy Pilot Program

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology within the U.S. Department of Transportation is issuing a $2 million Notice of Funding Opportunity to establish a university-led consortium focused on reducing the disproportionately high rate of traffic fatalities among American Indian and Alaska Native populations through a three-year pilot initiative. The project will develop a next-generation strategic safety plan utilizing artificial intelligence for risk-based analysis and culminate in the implementation of a low-cost, high-impact safety infrastructure demonstration in at least one federally recognized Tribal community. The initiative requires substantial involvement from the federal agency, with the award structured as a cooperative agreement under 2 CFR Part 200, mandating at least a 50 percent non-federal cost share, bringing the total project value to an estimated $3 million. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in Tribal transportation safety, cultural competency, and multi-disciplinary collaboration, with a clear plan for community engagement, post-implementation evaluation, and long-term sustainability. The application must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by August 28, 2026, and requires a comprehensive technical proposal not exceeding 25 pages, a detailed cost proposal, and mandatory attachments including a copy of the latest Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and documentation of cost share funding. Key personnel must be identified with roles and time commitments outlined, and all subawards require prior approval from OST-R. Recipients are subject to strict reporting obligations, including quarterly financial and technical updates, submission of a Data Management Plan for public data sharing, and adherence to federal compliance requirements including civil rights laws, Executive Orders on equity and oversight, and prohibitions on permanent construction—limited to temporary demonstration measures. Equipment purchases over $10,000 require advance approval, and the project will be administered with active oversight from Kelley Severns, the DOT OST-R Project Manager. The anticipated performance period begins November 1, 2026, and concludes October 31, 2029, with no funding options or extensions guaranteed beyond the initial term.