Opportunity Information: Apply for FM CDL 17 001
The Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grant is a U.S. Department of Transportation initiative run by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that funds efforts to strengthen how Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) are issued, tracked, and enforced. It was released as a discretionary funding opportunity for Fiscal Year 2017 under Funding Opportunity Number FM CDL 17 001 (CFDA 20.232), with the Notice of Funding Availability posted on April 28, 2017 and an original application deadline of July 10, 2017. FMCSA anticipated making about 60 awards, using grant and cooperative agreement instruments, meaning recipients may receive not only funding but also active federal involvement or oversight consistent with cooperative agreements.
The program exists to support the national CDL system's central safety mission: reducing both the number and severity of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles by ensuring that only qualified drivers can obtain and keep a CDL. The grant is tightly tied to the core integrity principle commonly described as "One Driver, One License, One Record." In practical terms, this principle aims to prevent fragmented or duplicative driver records and to stop situations where an unsafe driver could conceal violations, suspensions, or disqualifications by holding multiple licenses or having incomplete records spread across jurisdictions. By reinforcing a single, accurate driver history and a single licensing document, the program helps states and partner agencies identify high-risk behavior earlier and apply consequences consistently.
The opportunity emphasizes implementation and operational improvements that support the CDL lifecycle, especially the required steps states must carry out before issuing a CDL and throughout the driver's licensing history. This includes maintaining effective knowledge and skills testing prior to licensure, keeping complete and accurate driver history records for all CDL holders, and ensuring that driver disqualifications are imposed when warranted. The overall intent is to improve the reliability of the licensing process and the quality of the underlying data so that licensing decisions and enforcement actions are based on correct, up-to-date information.
Eligible applicants are broad but centered on public-sector and public-purpose work. FMCSA invited applications from state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as certain nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and individuals. A key condition is that funded projects must serve a public purpose and align with activities that support CDL program implementation, typically meaning efforts that help government agencies carry out, improve, or support CDL-related compliance, testing, recordkeeping, and disqualification functions.Apply for FM CDL 17 001
- The Department of Transportation, DOT/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.232.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 2017 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals.
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Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation (CDLPI) Grant (FM CDL 17 001) - FAQs
What is the Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grant?
The CDLPI grant is a U.S. Department of Transportation funding opportunity administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It supports projects that strengthen how Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) are issued, tracked, and enforced, with the central goal of improving the integrity of the national CDL system.
Which federal agency runs this grant program?
The program is run by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an operating administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
What is the main purpose of the CDLPI program?
The program supports the national CDL system's safety mission: reducing both the number and severity of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles by helping ensure that only qualified drivers can obtain and keep a CDL.
What does "One Driver, One License, One Record" mean in this grant context?
"One Driver, One License, One Record" is an integrity principle aimed at preventing fragmented or duplicative driver records. In practical terms, it focuses on maintaining one accurate driver history and one licensing document so that violations, suspensions, or disqualifications cannot be hidden across jurisdictions, and enforcement can be applied consistently.
Why is the "One Driver, One License, One Record" principle important?
It helps prevent situations where unsafe drivers could conceal past violations or disqualifications by holding multiple licenses or relying on incomplete records. Strengthening a single, reliable driver record helps agencies identify high-risk behavior earlier and make accurate licensing and enforcement decisions based on up-to-date information.
What kinds of improvements does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes implementation and operational improvements across the CDL lifecycle. This includes efforts tied to steps required before issuing a CDL and throughout a driver's licensing history, such as improving testing, recordkeeping, and the application of disqualifications.
What CDL lifecycle activities are specifically highlighted?
Highlighted activities include maintaining effective knowledge and skills testing prior to licensure, keeping complete and accurate driver history records for all CDL holders, and ensuring driver disqualifications are imposed when warranted.
What is the overall intent of funding these activities?
The overall intent is to improve the reliability of the CDL licensing process and strengthen the quality of the data used for licensing decisions and enforcement actions, so decisions are based on correct and current information.
Is this a formula grant or a competitive (discretionary) funding opportunity?
This was released as a discretionary funding opportunity for Fiscal Year 2017, meaning funding decisions were made competitively rather than through a formula distribution.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this CDLPI notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FM CDL 17 001.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 20.232.
When was the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) posted?
The Notice of Funding Availability was posted on April 28, 2017.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was July 10, 2017.
How many awards did FMCSA expect to make?
FMCSA anticipated making about 60 awards under this opportunity.
What type of funding instruments were anticipated (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
FMCSA anticipated using both grant and cooperative agreement instruments for awards.
What does it mean if an award is a cooperative agreement?
In this opportunity, cooperative agreements were described as involving not only funding but also active federal involvement or oversight consistent with how cooperative agreements operate.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as certain nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and individuals.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Certain nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status were eligible, with an explicit exclusion for institutions of higher education.
Are institutions of higher education eligible under the nonprofit category?
No. The opportunity explicitly excluded institutions of higher education from the eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit category described.
Can individuals apply for CDLPI funding?
Yes. Individuals were included among the eligible applicants, with the condition that funded projects must serve a public purpose and align with CDL program implementation activities.
Do projects need to serve a public purpose?
Yes. A key condition stated is that funded projects must serve a public purpose and align with activities supporting CDL program implementation.
What types of projects align with CDL program implementation under this opportunity?
Projects generally align when they help government agencies carry out, improve, or support CDL-related compliance, testing, recordkeeping, and disqualification functions.
How does this program support enforcement and licensing decisions?
By improving the completeness and accuracy of CDL holder records and reinforcing disqualification processes, the program supports decisions and enforcement actions that rely on correct, up-to-date driver information.
What safety problem is the program trying to address?
The program is designed to reduce the number and severity of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles by strengthening safeguards that ensure CDL holders are qualified and that unsafe drivers are identified and addressed consistently.
Does the opportunity focus more on planning or on implementation?
Based on the description, the opportunity emphasizes implementation and operational improvements that directly support the CDL lifecycle and related program functions.
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