NHTSA Grant for Developing Driver Education Best Practices and Training

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE

The purpose and objective of this Umbrella Cooperative Agreement (CA or Agreement) is to conduct research on, evaluations of, and identification of best practices related to driver education for novice drivers and to train state driver licensing authorities how to adopt such practices. 

Drivers between the ages of 15 to 20 years have the highest involvement in fatal crashes of any age group. In addition, there is an increasing proportion of young people over the age of 18 years delaying licensure. If an individual delays obtaining a drivers license, the individual may no longer be subject to a State’s graduated licensing procedures resulting in no classroom or behind-the-wheel training/instruction before a license is issued (Tefft et al, 2014). New traffic safety countermeasures are required to address these trends.

NHTSA seeks innovative and creative projects that will focus on:

·      Identifying and developing innovative driver education, licensing, or training demonstration practices and countermeasures.

·      Developing education and training to driver licensing authorities on best practices or countermeasures.

·      Conduct research of issues or practices related to driver education, licensing, training, and countermeasures.

The Department is committed to advancing safe, efficient transportation, including in the Developing Best Practices and Training for Driver Education project. The National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), issued January 27, 2022, commits the Department to respond to the current crisis in roadway fatalities by ‘taking substantial, comprehensive action to significantly reduce serious and fatal injuries on the Nation’s roadways,’ in pursuit of the goal of achieving zero roadway deaths through a Safe System Approach. (See https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS) The outcomes that are anticipated from the projects funded by Developing Best Practices and Training for Driver Education should align with the NRSS.

NHTSA seeks to issue an award that will create proportional impacts to all populations in a project area, remove transportation related disparities to all populations in a project area, and increase equitable access to project benefits, consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009).

In addition, NHTSA intends to use the Developing Best Practices and Training for Novice Driver Education project to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and workforce programs consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335).

FUNDING AND TYPE OF AWARD

A total ceiling amount of $1,817,560.00 is available to award multiple discretionary Umbrella Cooperative Agreements under this NOFO and $TBD is available for services required to participate in a Kickoff Meeting under the award of the resultant Umbrella Cooperative Agreement. NHTSA will only accept one (1) application from each eligible applicant (see Section C.1). Submission of an application is not a guarantee of award. The Government’s obligations under this Cooperative Agreement are contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for Cooperative Agreement purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available.