Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding Opportunity

FY 2026 SS4A NOFO

BILLING CODE 4910-9X
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Docket Number: DOT-OST-2026-0050
DOT FY 2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding
ISSUED: March 27, 2026
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT
or the Department)
ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO or Notice), Assistance Listing # 20.939
Each section of this Notice contains information and instructions relevant to the application
process for Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants, and all applicants should read this
Notice in its entirety to have the information they need to submit eligible and competitive
applications.
Section Content
A Basic Information
B Definitions
C Eligibility Information
D Program Description
E Application Contents and Format
F Submission Requirements and Deadlines
G Application Review Information
H Federal Award Notices
I Post-Award Requirements and Administration
J Other Information
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A. Basic Information
Federal Agency Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation
Name
Announcement Notice of Funding Opportunity
Type
Funding DOT-SS4A-FY26-01 (Grants.gov)
Opportunity
Number
Assistance Listing 20.939
Number
Executive Funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 SS4A grant program are to be awarded on a
Summary competitive basis to support planning, infrastructure, and behavioral and
operational initiatives to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on roads and
streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public
transportation, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators.
Objective The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for SS4A.
Eligible Applicants • Metropolitan planning organizations;
• Political subdivisions of a State or territory (e.g., cities, towns, counties);
• Federally recognized Tribal governments; and
• A multijurisdictional group of entities described in any of the
aforementioned three types of entities.
Eligible Project • Develop a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan).
Types • Conduct supplemental safety planning to enhance an Action Plan.
• Carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or an
update to, an Action Plan.
• Perform planning, design, and development activities for projects and
strategies identified in an Action Plan.
• Implement projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that
address roadway safety problems.
Funding Details This Notice makes available up to $993,488,194 for FY 2026 grants:
$687,809,874 is available for Implementation Grants
Expected number of awards: 40 to 70
o
Expected funding range: $2,500,000 to $25,000,000
o
$305,678,320 is available for Planning and Demonstration Grants
Expected number of awards: 400 to 700
o
Expected funding range: $100,000 to $5,000,000
o
DOT reserves the right to make more, or fewer, awards. DOT reserves the
discretion to alter minimum and maximum award sizes upon receiving the full
pool of applications and assessing the needs of the program in relation to the
SS4A grant priorities in Section D.vi: Grant Priorities. DOT may increase the
overall amount of funding if additional funds become available.
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Funding Not more than 15 percent of the $1 billion in FY 2026 funds made available to
Restrictions carry out the SS4A program may be awarded to eligible applicants in a single
State.1
A minimum of 30 percent of the total funds made available in FY 2026 must be
awarded for developing an Action Plan, including supplemental planning to
update an existing Action Plan, or demonstration activities to inform the
development or update of an Action Plan.
Key Dates Planning and Demonstration Grant and Implementation Grant applications must
be submitted by 5:00 PM (EDT) on May 26, 2026.
Technical questions must be submitted by 5:00 PM (EDT) on April 24, 2026.
Pre-application eligibility review requests must be submitted for Implementation
Grants by 5:00 PM (EDT) on April 24, 2026.
Application Links Applications must be submitted via Valid Eval, an online application submission
system used by DOT
• Implementation Grant Application:
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2026_implementation/signup
• Planning and Demonstration Grant Application:
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2026_planning_demo/signup
Customer support for Valid Eval can be reached at support@valideval.com.
Agency Contact Email: SS4A@dot.gov
Information Website: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A
DOT will regularly post answers to common questions and requests for
clarification, as well as schedule information for webinars providing additional
guidance on the SS4A website.
1. Changes in the FY 2026 NOFO
The FY 2026 NOFO substantively differs from the FY 2025 NOFO in the following ways:
• DOT is placing a priority on Public Safety Infrastructure.
• Section B. Definitions. Clarifying information is added regarding Public Safety
Infrastructure for post-crash care, emergency response coordination, and prehospital
blood transfusion activities.
1 Funding for Tribal lands will be treated as their own State and will not count toward a State’s 15% limit.
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• Section G. Application Review Information has been updated to include clearer
information regarding how SS4A applications will be assessed.
• Section G. Application Review Information. Added language noting that if DOT does not
receive enough merit-worthy applications for Planning and Demonstration Grants to
award the 30 percent set aside requirement, surplus funds may be redirected toward
merit-worthy Implementation Grants.
• Added language highlighting new Executive Orders and DOT Orders.
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B. Definitions
Term Definition
Applicant’s The U.S. Census tract(s) where the applicant operates or performs their safety
Jurisdiction(s) responsibilities. If an applicant is seeking funding for multiple jurisdictions,
they should include all relevant Census tracts for the jurisdictions covered by
the application.
Comprehensive Safety A comprehensive safety action plan (referred to as an “Action Plan”) is a plan
Action Plan to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a locality or region or on
Tribal land. This can be either an Action Plan developed with a Planning and
Demonstration Grant, or a previously developed plan (e.g., a Vision Zero plan
or similar plan) that is substantially similar to and meets the eligibility
requirements of an Action Plan. See Table 1 for a detailed description.
Fatal or Serious Injury A fatal or serious injury crash involves a motor vehicle traveling on a
Crash roadway customarily open to the public. To be considered a motor vehicle
related fatal injury, the crash must involve a motor vehicle traveling on a
trafficway customarily open to the public and must result in the death of a
vehicle occupant or a nonoccupant within 30 days of the crash. This definition
aligns with the definition of a fatal crash in the Fatality Analysis Reporting
System (FARS).
High-Injury Network Identifies the highest concentrations of motor vehicle related crashes resulting
in serious injuries and fatalities within a given roadway network or
jurisdiction.
Political Subdivision A unit of government created under the authority of State law. This includes
of a State cities, towns, counties, special districts, certain transit agencies, and similar
units of local government. A transit district, authority, or public benefit
corporation is eligible if it was created under State law, including transit
authorities operated by political subdivisions of a State.
Public Safety Physical and digital hardware, software, systems, technologies, equipment,
Infrastructure protocols, facilities, and coordination models used by public safety agencies
such as 9-1-1, emergency medical services (EMS), fire services, law
enforcement, and trauma system partners to either prevent, respond to, or
reduce the severity of roadway crashes. Public safety infrastructure may be
permanent, modular, configurable, or interoperable, and may include
temporary, pilot, or limited-scale deployments.
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Term Definition
Rural For the purposes of this NOFO, jurisdictions outside an Urban Area (UA) or
located within UAs with populations fewer than 200,000, based on the 2020
Census, will be considered rural. Lists of UAs are available on the U.S.
Census Bureau website at
https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ua/2020_Census_ua_list_all.xlsx
Safe System A guiding principle to address the safety of all road users. It involves a
Approach paradigm shift to improve safety culture, increase collaboration across all
safety stakeholders, and refocus transportation system design and operation
on anticipating human mistakes and lessening impact forces to reduce crash
severity and save lives.2
Areas of Persistent Areas of Persistent Poverty (APP)3 are defined as:
Poverty and
• Any county that has consistently had greater than or equal to 20
Underserved
percent of the population living in poverty during the 30-year period
Community
preceding November 15, 2021, as measured by the 1990 and 2000
decennial census and the most recent annual Small Area Income
Poverty Estimates as estimated by the Bureau of the Census
• Any census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as measured
by the 2014 – 2018 5-year data series available from the American
Community Survey of the Bureau of the Census
• Any territory or possession of the United States
Underserved Community will use the same definition as APP for purposes of
this NOFO.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Section 24112(a)(2) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Pub. L. 117–58,
provides statutory eligibility criteria for the SS4A grants. Eligible applicants for SS4A grants are:
2For additional information, visit: https://www.transportation.gov/safe-system-approach
3 See 49 U.S.C. § 6702(a)(1).
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1. a metropolitan planning organization (MPO);
2. a political subdivision of a State or territory;
3. a federally recognized Tribal government; and
4. a multijurisdictional group of entities made up of any of the aforementioned three types
of entities.
A multijurisdictional group of entities should identify a lead applicant as the primary point of
contact. Non-profits are not eligible applicants unless created under State law with roadway
safety and/or planning responsibilities equivalent to a political subdivision of a State. States and
territories are not eligible applicants.
SS4A award recipients from all previous years are eligible to apply in FY 2026. FY 2026
Projects of Merit, which are Implementation Grant or Planning and Demonstration Grant
applications that received a Highly Recommended rating, may automatically be carried forward
for consideration under a future SS4A NOFO, subject to availability of appropriations and
specific funding requirements which will be explained in future NOFOs. Applicants would be
responsible for updating an application should the future SS4A NOFO include program or policy
changes from this FY 2026 NOFO.
Additional Eligibility Requirements for Implementation Grant Applicants
An eligible applicant for an Implementation Grant must also meet at least one of the following
conditions:
• have ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities over a roadway network;
• have safety responsibilities that affect roadways; or
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• have an agreement in the form of a signed letter, MOU, or other documentation from the
agency that has ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities for the roadway within
the applicant’s jurisdiction.
2. Number of Applications
Eligible applicants may submit one application only to the FY 2026 funding opportunity. If
multiple applications are received from the same political subdivision of a State and/or applicant,
the last application submitted will be reviewed. If an applicant is eligible for both a Planning and
Demonstration Grant and an Implementation Grant, the applicant must choose between applying
for a Planning and Demonstration Grant or an Implementation Grant.
Implementation Grant applicants may request funds to bundle supplemental planning and
demonstration activities as described in Section D.8.i, alongside a request for funds to implement
projects and strategies.
3. Planning and Demonstration Grant Eligibility Requirements
Eligible activities for a Planning and Demonstration Grant include: develop a new Action Plan,
conduct supplemental safety planning to update an existing Action Plan, or carry out safety
demonstration activities to inform the development of or update to an Action Plan.
These activities may be bundled in any combination, provided that the requirements in this
Notice are met. DOT encourages complementary but distinct activities, including but not limited
to safety demonstration activities that will help inform the development of an Action Plan.
Any applicant that meets the eligibility requirements described below may apply for a Planning
and Demonstration Grant to develop an Action Plan.
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i. Developing an Action Plan
The development of an Action Plan must include all relevant road users and be at a broad,
systemwide geography (i.e., the eligible applicant’s entire jurisdiction, not a few road segments
within a jurisdiction). Corridor-level or site-specific studies are considered to be supplemental
planning and not an Action Plan. Applicants with an existing Action Plan may also apply to
update their Action Plan.
ii. Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities
Supplemental planning broadly refers to an activity that informs the development of a new or
existing Action Plan. Eligible supplemental planning activities include, but are not limited to, the
following:
• Action plan updates
• Action plan consolidation including combining different jurisdiction’s action plans or
integrating topical safety activities into an action plan
• Complementary or topical safety plan development
• Road safety audits
• Follow-up data collection and safety analysis
• Progress reporting
• Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
• Roadway safety planning
Demonstration activities are temporary safety improvements that inform the Action Plan by
testing proposed project and strategy approaches to determine future benefits and future scope.
Eligible demonstration activities include, but are not limited to the following:
• Feasibility studies
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• MUTCD engineering studies
• Behavioral or operational activity pilot programs
• New technology pilot programs
Examples of eligible supplemental planning and demonstration activities are provided at
Planning and Demonstration Activities - SS4A | US Department of Transportation .
iii. Action Plan Requirement
Applicants requesting Federal funding to conduct supplemental planning and/or demonstration
activities only, without developing or updating an Action Plan must either a) have an existing
Action Plan, which is demonstrated through meeting the Action Plan requirements outlined in
the Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet4 and described in Table 1: Action Plan Components,
b) have received SS4A funding in a previous round to develop or update an Action Plan and are
in the process of completing or updating an Action Plan, as described in Table 1: Action Plan
Components, or c) use a higher-level jurisdiction’s Action Plan as described below.
If a higher-level jurisdiction (e.g., an MPO or county would be a higher-level jurisdiction for a
city or town) has an eligible and finalized Action Plan, or is in the process of completing or
updating an SS4A-funded Action Plan from a previous grant round, an eligible applicant can
apply for supplemental planning and/or demonstration activities without its own plan only if: 1)
the geographic boundaries of the higher-level jurisdiction’s Action Plan cover the eligible
applicant’s jurisdiction; 2) the proposed activities are coordinated with the higher-level
jurisdiction and the application demonstrates such coordination; and 3) the activities will inform
the Action Plan of the higher-level jurisdiction.
4 https://www.transportation.gov/grants/ss4a/self-certification-worksheet.
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iv. Duplicative Action Plans
An application may be deemed duplicative, and therefore ineligible, if it requests funds to
develop a new Action Plan when another jurisdiction is already preparing an Action Plan in the
same area using SS4A funding and/or requests funds to develop a new Action Plan in the same
area as another FY26 application. Duplicative funding requests to develop a new Action Plan
will be identified and assessed for merit within the context of other jurisdictions and their
planning activities and will result in an eligibility determination.
4. Implementation Grant Eligibility Requirements
i. Action Plan Requirement
To apply for an Implementation Grant, the applicant must certify that they have an existing plan
that is substantially similar to an Action Plan as defined in Section B and Table 1: Action Plan
Components and has been finalized and/or last updated between 2021 and May 26, 2026. The
components required for an existing plan to be substantially similar to an Action Plan may be
found in up to three plans (e.g., a regional transportation safety plan and a local Vision Zero plan
may be used together to meet all component requirements).
If another jurisdiction (e.g., an MPO or county) has an existing plan in place that meets Action
Plan eligibility requirements, an eligible applicant covered within the Action Plan’s geographic
boundaries could apply without its own plan as long as the existing plan is focused, at least in
part, on the roadway network within the applicant’s jurisdiction, the plans include the applicant’s
projects and strategies, and all other eligibility requirements are met.
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If an applicant does not have an existing Action Plan or is not located in a jurisdiction which has
an existing Action Plan, they should apply for a Planning and Demonstration Grant to develop
one. They should NOT apply for an Implementation Grant.
The plan, or a combination of up to three plans, must be uploaded as an attachment to the
application or provided as web links to publicly available sites. Applicants should use the Self-
Certification Eligibility Worksheet to determine eligibility and upload the completed worksheet
with their application.5
Ineligible Plans
State-level Action Plans (e.g., a Strategic Highway Safety Plan required under 23 U.S.C. § 148,
State Highway Safety Plans required under 23 U.S.C. § 402, Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans
required under 49 U.S.C. § 31102, or Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans required under
49 U.S.C. § 5329) cannot be used as an established plan to apply for an Implementation Grant.
Alignment With All Action Plan Components
Implementation Grant applicants who meet any of the following conditions must update their
Action Plan during the period of performance for the grant agreement to align with all Action
Plan components in Table 1: Action Plan Components as a condition of receiving SS4A funds:
• Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet areas that include a “no” response; or
• Safety focus in the qualifying Action Plan does not include all road users.
Implementation Grant applicants are encouraged to request supplemental planning funding in
their application to complete any missing components of an existing plan but may choose to
complete such activities without Federal funding.
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5. Cost Sharing or Matching
The Federal share of an SS4A grant may not exceed 80 percent of total eligible SS4A project
costs. Recipients are required to contribute a local matching share of no less than 20 percent of
total eligible project costs. Matching funds may include funding from the applicant or other
eligible non-Federal sources. Unless otherwise authorized by statute, all matching contributions
must be from non-Federal sources. Applicants that intend to combine SS4A funds with Federal-
Aid funds provided under Title 23 U.S.C. could experience a significant delay in the
programming of funding and the execution of a grant agreement.
i. Exceptions to Non-Federal Match Requirements
In the following situations, the non-federal match requirement may be met with Federal funds or
may be waived:
• For eligible applicants on federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes,
nations, bands, communities and affiliated groups, Tribal Transportation Program and
Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds are Federal funding programs, and these
programs may be used as non-Federal match.
• For eligible applicants located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, when the required local match is
less than $200,000, SS4A will apply a 100 percent Federal share and waive local match
requirements per 48 U.S.C. § 1469a and Pub. L. 96-205, Title VI, § 601, as amended, and
consistent with OMB Controller Alert CA-23-04, Waiving Matching Fund Requirements
for Insular Areas.
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ii. Types of Non-Federal Match
In accordance with 2 CFR § 200.306, grant recipients may use in-kind or cash contributions
toward local match requirements so long as those contributions meet the requirements under 2
CFR § 200.306(b). Any in-kind contributions used to fulfill the cost-share requirement for both
Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants must:
• Be in accordance with the cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E;
• Include documented evidence of completion within the period of performance; and
• Support the execution of the eligible activities in Section D.10: Eligible Activities and
Costs
Additional information about match requirements and costs that can be considered match are
available at https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A.
D. Program Description
1. Overview
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Pub. L. 117–58, authorized and appropriated
$1,000,000,000 to be awarded by DOT for FY 2026 for the SS4A grant program.6 This Notice
solicits applications for activities to be funded under the SS4A grant program.
The purpose of SS4A grants is to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or
eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through the development, refinement, and
implementation of Action Plans focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public
transportation users, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators. The Action Plans include
6 See IIJA, Pub. L. 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, 815, Div. B, Title IV, § 24112; id., 135 Stat at 1413, Div. J, Title VIII.
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strategies to implement the Safe System Approach. The program provides funding to develop
tools to strengthen a community’s approach to roadway safety and is designed to meet the needs
of local, Tribal, and regional communities that differ dramatically in size, location, and
experience administering Federal funding.
2. Total Funding Available
IIJA established the SS4A program with $5,000,000,000 in advanced appropriations in
Division J, including $1,000,000,000 for FY 2026. DOT has retained not more than 2 percent, or
$20,000,000, for administrative expenses.7 In addition, DOT has $13,488,194 in carryover funds.
Therefore, this Notice makes available up to $993,488,194 for FY 2026 grants under the SS4A
program. Refer to Section G for greater detail on additional funding considerations and Section
A. Basic Information for funding restrictions.
3. Start Dates and Period of Performance
DOT expects to obligate SS4A award funding via signed grant agreements between DOT and
recipients, as flexibly and expeditiously as possible, within 12 months of award announcement.
Because award recipients under this program may be first-time recipients of Federal funding,
DOT is committed to providing assistance to help them through the process of securing a grant
agreement and delivering grant projects and strategies through the SS4A Technical Assistance
Center8. Applicants who have never received Federal funding from DOT are also encouraged to
partner with eligible applicants within the same region, such as an MPO, that have established
7 IIJA § 24112(f)(2)
8 For additional information about the SS4A Technical Assistance Center, visit:
https://www.ss4aclearinghouse.org/TechnicalAssistance
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financial relationships with DOT and knowledge of Federal grant administration requirements.
While States are not eligible applicants and cannot be a co-applicant (which includes State
Departments of Transportation and similar State-level entities), eligible applicants are
encouraged to seek guidance on project delivery and processes from States and other entities
experienced with administering Federal grants, outside of the SS4A grant award process, to
ensure effective administration of a grant award. The expected period of performance for
Planning and Demonstration and Implementation Grant agreements is between 24 months and
five years, depending on the scope and extent of the grant activities. The period of performance
for Planning and Demonstration Grant and Implementation Grant agreements may not exceed
five years.
4. Data Collection Requirements
Pursuant to section 24112(i)(1) of IIJA, DOT must post on a publicly available website best
practices and lessons learned for preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries pursuant to
strategies or interventions implemented under SS4A. In addition, DOT must evaluate and
incorporate, as appropriate, the effectiveness of strategies and interventions implemented under
the SS4A grant program into the publicly available website on best practices and lessons
learned.9 The best practices and lessons learned collected thus far are available on the SS4A
Clearinghouse website. DOT intends to measure safety outcomes through a combination of grant
agreement activities and data collections, including DOT data collections already underway and
program evaluations separate from the individual grant agreements. The grant data-collection
9 IIJA specifically cites Countermeasures That Work: A Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide for State Highway
Safety Offices, Eleventh Edition, or any successor document.
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requirements reflect the need to build evidence of noteworthy strategies and best practices. DOT
expects to use the data and outcome information collected before and after evaluations. See
Section I for more information about post-award reporting requirements.
5. Grant Options and Deliverables
The SS4A program provides funding for two main types of grants: Planning and
Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants. Planning and Demonstration Grants are
used to develop, complete, or supplement an Action Plan, as well as carry out safety
demonstration activities that inform an Action Plan. Implementation Grants are used to
implement strategies or projects that are consistent with an existing Action Plan. In addition,
applicants may bundle funding requests for supplemental planning and demonstration activities
that inform the Action Plan into an Implementation Grant application.
i. Planning and Demonstration Grants
Action Plan
An Action Plan is the foundation of the SS4A grant program and supports the implementation of
projects and strategies that will help achieve local, data-driven transportation safety goals. The
goal of an Action Plan is to develop a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities
and serious injuries in a locality, region, or on Tribal Lands. Grants for Action Plans provide
Federal funds to eligible applicants to develop, complete, or enhance an Action Plan for broad,
systemwide geography covering the applicant’s entire jurisdiction.
The primary deliverable is a publicly available Action Plan. For the purposes of the SS4A grant
program, an Action Plan includes the components in Table 1. DOT considers the process of
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developing an Action Plan to be critical for success and the components reflect a process-
oriented set of activities. For applications involving a multi-jurisdictional group, applicants may
propose the development of a single Action Plan covering all jurisdictions, several plans for
individual jurisdictions, or a system to administer sub-awards to entities within its jurisdiction.
Table 1: Action Plan Components
Component Description
Leadership An official public commitment (e.g., resolution, policy, ordinance) by a high-
Commitment and ranking official and/or governing body (e.g., Mayor, City Council, Tribal
Goal Setting Council, MPO Policy Board) to an eventual goal of zero roadway fatalities and
serious injuries. The commitment must include a goal and timeline for eliminating
roadway fatalities and serious injuries achieved through one, or both, of the
following:
(1) the target date for achieving zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries, or
(2) a percentage reduction of roadway fatalities and serious injuries by a specific
date with an eventual goal of eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries.
Planning Structure A committee, task force, implementation group, or similar body charged with
oversight of the Action Plan development, implementation, and monitoring.
Safety Analysis Analysis of existing conditions and historical trends that provides a baseline level
of crashes involving fatalities and serious injuries across a jurisdiction, locality,
Tribe, or region. Includes an analysis of crash locations and crash severity, as well
as contributing factors and crash types by relevant road users (e.g., motorists,
pedestrians, transit users, etc.). Analysis of systemic and specific safety needs is
also performed, as needed (e.g., high-risk road features, specific safety needs of
relevant road users, analysis of the built environment, demographics, and
structural issues). The safety analysis can consider factors that influence the
severity of outcomes when crashes occur, including the availability and
coordination of emergency response and post-crash care systems. To the extent
practical, the analysis should include all roadways within the jurisdiction, without
regard to ownership. Based on the analysis performed, a geospatial identification
of higher-risk locations is developed (a high-injury network or equivalent).
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Component Description
Engagement and Robust engagement with the public and relevant stakeholders and partners,
Collaboration including the private sector, and community groups allows for both community
representation and feedback. Information received from engagement and
collaboration is analyzed and incorporated into the Action Plan. Overlapping
jurisdictions are included in the process. Plans and processes are coordinated and
aligned with other governmental plans and planning processes to the extent
practicable.
Policy and Process Assessment of current local policies, plans, guidelines, and/or standards (e.g.,
Changes manuals) to identify opportunities to improve how processes prioritize
transportation safety. The Action Plan discusses implementation through the
adoption of revised or new local policies, guidelines, and/or standards, as
appropriate.
Strategy and Identification of a comprehensive set of projects and strategies informed by data,
Project Selections the best available evidence and noteworthy practices, and stakeholder input that
will address the safety problems described in the Action Plan. These strategies
and countermeasures focus on a Safe System Approach and effective
interventions and consider multidisciplinary activities. To the extent practicable,
data limitations are identified and mitigated.
Once identified, the projects and strategies are prioritized in a list that provides
time ranges for when the strategies and countermeasures are expected to be
deployed (e.g., short-, mid-, and long-term timeframes). The list should include
specific projects and strategies, or descriptions of programs of projects and
strategies, and explain prioritization criteria used. The list should contain
interventions focused on infrastructure and behavioral and operational safety.
Progress and Method to measure progress over time after an Action Plan is developed or
Transparency updated, including outcome data. A means to ensure ongoing transparency is
established with residents and other relevant stakeholders. The approach must
include, at a minimum, annual public and accessible reporting on progress toward
reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries and public posting of the Action
Plan online.
Supplemental Planning Activities
Supplemental planning activities support or enhance an existing Action Plan. Examples of
eligible supplemental planning activities are provided at
https://www.transportation.gov/grants/ss4a/planning-and-demonstration-activities.
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The final deliverable for supplemental planning is a written product that connects to, and
enhances, an Action Plan. Final products shall be made publicly available.
Demonstration Activities
Demonstration activities inform an Action Plan by testing proposed project and strategy
approaches to determine their potential benefits and future scope. Demonstration activities are
temporary and small in scale. Demonstration activities must measure potential benefits through
data collection and evaluation (e.g., before and after studies) and inform an Action Plan’s list of
selected projects and strategies and their future implementation.
Demonstration activities and pilot programs must inform Action Plans through small-scale tests
with finite trial periods intended to gauge potential project and strategy effectiveness that will
lead to project and strategy selection at a systemic level. DOT generally expects demonstration
activities to be initiated within 18 months of executing a grant agreement (e.g., quick-builds on
the roadway; pilot project established) and the benefits of the demonstration activity to be
evaluated during the period of performance for the grant agreement.
The final deliverable is an assessment of the demonstration activities and an updated Action Plan
that incorporates the information gathered from the demonstration activities into the Action
Plan’s list of projects or strategies and/or informs another part of the Action Plan.
ii. Implementation Grants
Implementation Grants fund projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that address
roadway safety problems. Implementation Grants may also fund supplemental planning and
demonstration activities as described above, as well as project-level planning, design, and
development activities for projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan (e.g., project-level
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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, associated environmental review
activities, permits and approvals, construction design, etc.).
6. SS4A Grant Priorities
This section discusses priorities specific to SS4A and NOFO requirements. Successful grant
applications will:
• Promote safety to prevent fatal and serious injuries on public roadways;
• Employ low-cost, high-impact strategies that can improve safety over a wide geographic
area;
• Ensure equitable investment in the safety needs of underserved communities, which
includes both underserved urban and rural communities;
• Beautifying transportation infrastructure with context-appropriate design and/or child-
friendly elements;
• Advance eligible truck parking with a clear roadway safety nexus;
• Incorporate evidence-based projects and strategies and adopt innovative technologies and
strategies; and
• Demonstrate engagement with a variety of public and private stakeholders.10
Additionally, applications will be more competitive if they
• Beautify transportation infrastructure with context-appropriate design and/or child-
friendly elements;
• Advance eligible truck parking with a clear roadway safety nexus;
10 See IIJA, Pub. L. 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, 816, § 24112(d)(3)(A)–(E).
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• Modernize public safety infrastructure, including prehospital blood transfusion
capabilities and improve post-crash care.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), awards focused on
infrastructure and demonstration activities must ensure that newly constructed facilities in the
public right-of-way are accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities to the extent
that it is not structurally impracticable to do so. The ADA also requires that, when an existing
facility is altered, the altered facility be made accessible to and usable by individuals with
disabilities to the maximum extent feasible.11
DOT intends to use the SS4A program to support the creation of good-paying jobs through union
participation or project labor agreements which promote cost-effectiveness and open
competition, registered apprenticeship programs, and other training and placement programs.
DOT intends to apply principles from DOT Order 2100.7, (Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound
Economic Analysis in DOT’s Policies, Programs and Activities) and DOT Order 2100.9, (Ensuring
Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity in Department of Transportation Policies, Programs, and
Activities) when evaluating applications and making award selections. To the maximum extent
permitted by law, DOT will prioritize projects that are in alignment with the principles outlined in
DOT Order 2100.7 and DOT Order 2100.9.
DOT seeks to fund projects that advance the priorities of this Administration as described in
DOT’s mission statement and across executive orders.
11 See 28 CFR § 35.151.
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7. Eligible Activities and Costs
Broadly, eligible activity costs must comply with the cost principles set forth in 2 CFR Part 200,
Subpart E. DOT reserves the right to make cost eligibility determinations on a case-by-case
basis.
i. Eligible Activities
Eligible activities for grant funding include the following three elements:
A. Developing or updating an Action Plan (i.e., the activities described in Section C.3.i:
Developing an Action Plan);
B. Conducting planning, design, and development activities for projects and strategies
identified in an Action Plan; and
C. Carrying out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan.
For Implementation Grants, activities must include element (C) and may include element (B).
Implementation Grant applications may also include element (A) such as supplemental planning
or demonstration activities. Projects and strategies identified in element (C) must be either
infrastructure, behavioral, operational, or post-crash care activities identified in the Action Plan,
including prehospital blood transfusion programs and other public safety system improvements,
and must be directly related to addressing the safety problem(s) identified in the application and
Action Plan. Applicants may “bundle” different projects, strategies, supplemental planning,
and/or demonstration activities into one Implementation Grant application, even if they address
different safety problems or are located in different areas. For “bundled” funding requests,
element (B) planning, design, and development activities must be directly connected to the
completion of the element (C) projects and strategies funded through the Implementation Grant
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application. Public safety infrastructure activities are eligible for Implementation Grants such as
Field Blood Delivery, Public Safety Dispatch, Digital Alert System, and Education Campaigns;
these activities could also be eligible as a safety demonstration activity provided they meet the
demonstration activity eligibility requirements described in Section D.5.i: Demonstration
Activities. Truck parking activities contained in an Action Plan may be eligible under an Action
Plan Grant or as part of an Implementation Grant if such activities demonstrates a clear roadway
safety nexus and are not among the ineligible activities listed below in Section D.7.ii. Examples
of eligible Implementation Grant activities are listed on the SS4A website
(https://www.transportation.gov/grants/ss4a/implementation-grants).
ii. Ineligible Activities and Costs
The following activities are not eligible for element (C) “projects and strategies” nor
demonstration activity funding:
• Projects and strategies whose primary purpose is not roadway safety.
• Projects and strategies exclusively focused on non-roadway modes of transportation,
including air, rail, marine, and pipeline. Note, however, roadway intersections with other
modes of transportation (e.g., at-grade highway rail crossings) are eligible activities.
• Capital projects to construct new roadways used for motor vehicles. A new roadway
facility exclusively for non-motorists (e.g., a pedestrian bridge) is an eligible activity if
the primary purpose is safety related.
• Infrastructure projects primarily intended to expand capacity to improve Levels of
Service for motorists on an existing roadway, such as the creation of additional through
lanes (i.e. without a clear safety nexus).
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• Maintenance activities for an existing roadway primarily to maintain a state of good
repair. However, roadway modifications on an existing roadway in support of specific
safety-related projects identified in an Action Plan are eligible activities.
• Development or implementation of a Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)
required by 49 U.S.C. § 5329. However, a PTASP that identifies and addresses risks to
pedestrians, bicyclists, personal conveyance and micromobility users, transit riders, and
others may inform Action Plan development.
E. Application Contents and Format
The Planning and Demonstration Grant and the Implementation Grant, respectively, have
different application submission and supporting document requirements. The SS4A website
(https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A) provides many resources to help complete the
required submission materials.
1. Implementation Grant Pre-Application Submissions
Prior to submitting an application, a potential Implementation Grant applicant is encouraged to
submit a Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet and links or attachments to any referenced
plan(s) to determine whether the applicant has an existing plan or plans that are substantially
similar to an Action Plan, which is required for Implementation Grant eligibility. A pre-
application eligibility review request must contain all required materials, including relevant
documentation, to receive an eligibility determination by DOT.
Pre-application submissions must be received at or before 5:00 PM (EDT) on April 24, 2026, by
emailing SS4A@dot.gov with the subject “Implementation Grant Eligibility Review: Applicant
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Name, State.” DOT expects to provide an affirmative response or details as to why the plan(s) do
not meet eligibility requirements to the applicant within three weeks of receipt. Each applicant
may request only one pre-application submission review. DOT will not perform pre-application
reviews of full application materials nor provide feedback on the quality of the overall
application.
If a potential applicant has an Action Plan covering their jurisdiction that was developed using
prior SS4A funds that has been accepted by DOT, they should not submit those plans for pre-
application eligibility review. DOT will confirm eligibility for these applicants upon application
submittal.
Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants are not eligible for pre-application submission
reviews.
2. Planning and Demonstration Grant Application Submissions
The application must include the application materials as described below. The necessary file
formats for each application component will be displayed on the Valid Eval application portal.
Standard Forms
All applicants must submit the following Standard Forms:
• Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424),
• Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A),
• Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B), and
• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL).
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The SF-424 requests applicants provide information on “Estimated Funds” (box 18). This budget
must list the amount and percent of both the total Federal funding requested and any additional
non-Federal funds, if any, that will be used to pay for the project. If the SS4A Federal funding
amounts requested differ between forms and/or other application materials, the amount in the SF-
424 will be used to determine funding. Funding requests must be in whole numbers (no cents).
For the SF-424A form, Section D and Section E are optional as described in the SF-424A
instructions.
Key Information Questions
The following questions are asked in the SS4A application on Valid Eval at
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2026_planning_demo/signup.
Table 2: Example Planning and Demonstration Application Key Information Table
Title Instructions
Lead Applicant Name This should be consistent with Q. 8.a. of the SF-424.
Lead Applicant Unique Entity Identifier See Section F.2 for more information about obtaining a
(UEI) UEI from SAM.gov.
Eligible Entity Type See Section C.1
Application Type (select one) • Develop a new Action Plan;
• Update/add to an existing local safety plan to meet
the requirements of an SS4A Action Plan as
described in Table 1 Action Plan Components;
• Develop or update an Action Plan and conduct
Demonstration or Supplemental Planning activities;
or
• Conduct Demonstration or Supplemental Planning
activities only.
Project Title A concise, descriptive title for the project. This should be
the same title used in the SF-424 form and the application
narrative.
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Title Instructions
Project Goal/Description A short description of the proposed activities and how
they will address the safety problem(s) in the applicant’s
jurisdiction.
Total Applicant Jurisdiction Population Source: 2020 U.S. Census data.
Total Count Motor Vehicle-Involved From the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for
Roadway Fatalities that includes the last 5 the applicant jurisdiction. Use 2019-2023 data.
years of data made available in the Fatality
Analysis Reporting System (FARS) during
the NOFO period
Total Average Annual Fatality Rate (per The fatality rate calculated using the 5-year annual
100,000 population) average from the total count of fatalities based on FARS
data from 2019-2023, divided by the population of the
applicant’s jurisdiction based on 2020 U.S. Census
population data.
Inclusion of Underserved Communities Whether the jurisdiction(s) covered by this application
Census Tract(s) are, or include, underserved communities.
Description of Supplemental Planning and See Section D.5.i: Planning and Demonstration Grants
Demonstration Activities (if relevant)
Total SS4A Funding Request Must be a whole number (no cents).
Total SS4A Non-Federal Share Must be equal to, or greater than, 20% of total project
cost.
Total SS4A Project Cost Sum of Total Federal Funding Request and Total Local
Share/Match.
Total Other Federal Funds Used Must be a whole number (no cents). Other Federal funds
may include funds directly received from a Federal
agency or funds received through a pass-through agency
(e.g., State governmental agency) that originated as
Federal funds.
Coordination For applications that include Action Plan development or
updates, the applicant agency must affirm that they will
coordinate with any jurisdictions that geographically
overlap with the applicant jurisdiction and have received
SS4A funding to develop or update an Action Plan or
have submitted an FY26 application requesting funds to
develop or update an Action Plan.
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Title Instructions
Proof of coordination (e.g., letter, email) from ALL such
geographically overlapping entities affirming they are
aware of your application and the need for coordination
to avoid duplication of efforts must be provided as an
attachment to the application.
Narrative
The narrative should include a brief description of the proposed activities. The narrative should
also respond to the Planning and Demonstration Grant Safety Context merit criteria described in
Section G.1.i: Planning and Demonstration Grant Merit Criteria to affirm the proposal’s
alignment with SS4A safety considerations and address the criteria. The applicant does not need
to address the Safety Impact or Underserved Communities merit criteria in the narrative; these
are based on nationally available data.
Applicants requesting less than $100,000 in funding must explain how the scope of activities will
be completed with the funding amount proposed.
Applicants requesting funding for demonstration activities to inform an Action Plan must
provide a brief schedule showing when the activities will occur (e.g., temporary materials
installed, when the pilot would begin), and the start/end dates of the pilot. If anticipated to be a
schedule constraint, applicants should include in the narrative any potential timeline implications
of meeting administration requirements in Section I such as domestic preference and any
required waivers, NEPA requirements, and any applicable permitting and approval timeframes.
Narrative Requirements:
• The narrative should be in PDF format, with font size no less than 12-point Times New
Roman, margins a minimum of one inch on all sides, and include page numbers.
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• The narrative should be no longer than two pages if requesting less than $1,000,000 in
Federal funds. If requesting $1,000,000 or more in Federal funds, the narrative must be
no longer than three pages.
Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet
If only applying for supplemental planning and/or demonstration activities that will inform the
update of an existing Action Plan, applicants must either demonstrate that their existing plan is
eligible by attaching a completed Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet, or be in the process of
developing or updating an SS4A-funded Action Plan from a previous grant round, as described
in Section C.3.i.
If applying to develop a new Action Plan, applicants do not need to include the Self-Certification
Eligibility Worksheet even if supplemental planning and/or demonstration activities are
included.
Map
The applicant must submit a map in both PDF and spatial format (e.g., Shapefile, .KML) that
shows the location of the jurisdiction and highlights the roadway network under the applicant’s
jurisdiction. Applicants requesting funding for demonstration activities must include the
locations of any proposed demonstration pilots if known.
Estimated Budget
Applicants are required to show how different funding sources will contribute to each activity
and present the data in whole dollars in a table similar to Table 3: Planning and Demonstration
Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget, below. A template is available at
https://www.transportation.gov/grants/ss4a/planning-and-demo-grant-budget-template. The
Planning and Demonstration Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget should summarize the
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amount of funding going toward each of the three eligible activities for a Planning and
Demonstration Grant as applicable (developing a new Action Plan, conducting supplemental
planning to update an existing plan, and carrying out demonstration activities to inform the
development or update of an Action Plan). Funding sources should be grouped into four
categories: SS4A funding request, SS4A non-Federal match, total SS4A project cost, and other
Federal funds (if applicable), with specific amounts for each funding source. Estimated costs or
value of in-kind matches should also be provided. The budget should show how each source of
funds will be spent. This budget should not include any previously incurred expenses, or costs to
be incurred before the time of award and obligation because these expenses are not eligible for
reimbursement or cost-sharing. This table should be completed in a manner consistent with the
Federal funding amount, non-Federal share, and total project cost in the SF-424 form.
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Table 3: Planning and Demonstration Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget
SS4A Other
Federal SS4A Non- Federal
Funding Federal Total SS4A Funds (if
Activities Request Match Project Cost applicable)
Itemized Estimated Costs to Develop or Update an Action Plan (if applicable)
New or Updated Action $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Plan
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Subtotal Budget for New $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
or Updated Action Plan
Itemized Estimated Costs of Supplemental Planning Activities (if applicable)
Supplemental Planning $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Activity #1
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Supplemental Planning $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Activity #2
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Supplemental Planning $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Activity #3
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
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Subtotal Budget for $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Supplemental Planning
Itemized Estimated Costs of Demonstration Activities (if applicable)
Demonstration/Pilot $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Activity #1
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Demonstration/Pilot $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Activity #2
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Subtotal Budget for $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Demonstration Activities
Total Budget for $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Planning and
Demonstration Activities
3. Implementation Grant Application Submissions
The application must include the application materials as described below. The necessary file
formats for each application component will be displayed on the Valid Eval application portal.
Standard Forms
All applicants must submit the following Standard Forms:
• Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424),
• Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF-424C),
• Assurances for Construction Programs (SF-424D), and
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• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL).
The SF-424 requests applicants provide information on “Estimated Funds” (box 18). This budget
must list the amount and percent of both the total Federal funding requested and any additional
non-Federal funds, if any, that will be used to pay for the project. If the SS4A Federal funding
amounts requested differ between forms and/or other application materials, the amount in the SF-
424 will be used to determine funding. Funding requests must be in whole numbers (no cents).
Key Information Questions
The following questions are asked in the SS4A application on Valid Eval at
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2026_implementation/signup.
Table 4: Example Implementation Grant Application Key Information Table
Title Instructions
Lead Applicant Name This should be consistent with Q. 8.a. of the SF-424.
Lead Applicant Unique Entity See Section F.2 for more information about obtaining a UEI from
Identifier (UEI) SAM.gov.
Eligible Entity Type See Section C.1.
Project Title A concise, descriptive title for the project. This should be the same
title used in the SF-424 form and the application narrative.
Project Goal/Description A short description of the proposed activities and how they will
address the safety problem(s) in the applicant’s jurisdiction.
Primary Project Purpose (select • Infrastructure Strategies: Build physical transportation
one) improvements; goal is to create safer facilities (e.g.,
constructing roundabouts, sidewalks, and traffic calming
measures)
• Behavioral Strategies: Focus on altering road user behavior
and/or reinforcing roadway habits for all users (e.g.,
performing High Visibility Enforcement or safety outreach
campaigns)
• Operational or Technology Strategies: Focus on enhancing the
safety and efficacy of existing transportation infrastructure
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Title Instructions
(e.g., updating signal phasing to protect turning movements or
address conflict points at intersections)
• Public Safety Infrastructure Strategies: Focus on programs or
technologies used by public safety agencies (e.g., field blood
distribution or improved emergency communications) to
prevent, respond to, and/or reduce the severity of roadway
crashes.
Total Applicant Jurisdiction Source: 2020 U.S. Census data.
Population
Total Count Motor Vehicle- From the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for the
Involved Roadway Fatalities in applicant jurisdiction. Use 2019-2023 data.
the Applicant Jurisdiction that
includes the last 5 years of data
made available in the Fatality
Analysis Reporting System
(FARS) during the NOFO period
Total Average Annual Fatality The fatality rate calculated using the 5-year annual average from
Rate (per 100,000 population) for the total count of fatalities based on FARS data from 2019-2023,
the Applicant Jurisdiction divided by the population of the applicant’s jurisdiction based on
2020 U.S. Census population data.
Inclusion of Underserved Whether the jurisdiction(s) covered by this application are or
Communities in Jurisdiction(s) include underserved communities.
Inclusion of Underserved Whether the project area(s) covered by this application are or
Communities in Project Area(s) include underserved communities.
Project Area Fatalities Count of fatalities in the project area(s). May use source other than
FARS, provided the data source is included in the application.
2019-2023 data is recommended, but applicants may use the most
recent five-year data available.
Count of serious injuries in the project area(s). Applicants without
Project Area Serious Injuries OR reliable serious injury data may use suspected serious injury
figures. The data source must be included in the application.
Project Area Injuries Severity
Unknown 2019-2023 data is recommended, but applicants may use the most
recent five-year data available.
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Title Instructions
Applicant roadway safety • Ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities over a roadway
responsibility (may select network;
multiple) • Safety responsibilities that affect roadways;
• Have an agreement with the agency that has ownership and/or
maintenance responsibilities for the roadway within the
applicant’s jurisdiction
Does your project include See Section D.5.i
Supplemental Planning and/or
Demonstration activities?
Would you consider accepting Yes, no, n/a.
funding for only Supplemental
Planning and/or Demonstration
activities?
Total SS4A Federal Funds Must be a whole number (no cents).
Requested
Total SS4A Non-Federal Share Must be equal to, or greater than, 20% of total project cost.
Total SS4A Project Cost Sum of Total SS4A Federal Funding Request and Total SS4A
Non-Federal Share/Match.
Total Other Federal Funds Used Must be a whole number (no cents). Other federal funds may
(if applicable) include funds directly received from a federal agency or funds
received through a pass-through agency (e.g., State governmental
agency) that originated as federal funds.
SS4A Funding Request for Must be consistent with Implementation Grant Supplemental
Supplemental Planning and/or Budget
Demonstration Activities (A)
SS4A Funding Request for Must be consistent with Implementation Grant Supplemental
Planning, Design, and Budget
Development Activities for
Projects/Strategies (B)
SS4A Funding Request for Must be consistent with Implementation Grant Supplemental
Carrying Out Projects and Budget
Strategies (C)
Existing Comprehensive Safety Link to or attachment
Action Plan (or equivalent)
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Narrative
In narrative form, the applicant must respond to the Implementation Grant merit criteria
described in Section G.1.ii to affirm its alignment with SS4A safety considerations and to
address the criteria.
a) Narrative Requirements
• The narrative should be in PDF format, with font size no less than 12-point Times New
Roman, margins a minimum of one inch on all sides, and include page numbers.
• The narrative may not exceed 12 pages in length, excluding cover page and the table of
contents.
• Implementation Grant applications that include supplemental planning and
demonstration activities may submit up to two additional pages – 14 pages total – if they
are focused solely on responding to the Supplemental Planning and Demonstration
Activities merit criterion (see Section G.1.ii).
• The following application elements do not count toward the page limit:
Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet
o
Budget
o
Appendices, which may include additional maps and documents supporting
o
assertions or conclusions made in the narrative.
• If possible, website links to supporting documentation should be provided rather than
copies of these supporting materials.
• If supporting documents are submitted, applicants should clearly identify within the
narrative the relevance of each supporting document.
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• Letters of support are encouraged, especially from relevant stakeholders and Public
Safety Agencies and associated Labor Unions representing First Responders. Letters of
support should be submitted with the application as one consolidated set in one
supporting attachment on Valid Eval.
b) Recommended Narrative Outline
Applicants are not required to follow a specific narrative format, but the structure should clearly
identify the narrative portions associated with each merit criterion. DOT recommends that the
narrative follows the outline below to address the program requirements and assist evaluators in
locating relevant information.
Overview See below
Location See below
Response to Merit Criteria See Section G.1
Project Readiness See Section G.1.ii
1. Overview
This section should provide an introduction and describe the proposed activities, safety context,
jurisdiction, and any high-level background information that would be useful to understand the
rest of the application.
2. Location
This section of the application should describe the jurisdiction’s location, the jurisdiction’s high-
injury network or equivalent geospatial identification (i.e., geographic or locational data using
maps) of higher risk locations, and potential locations (e.g., corridors or intersections) of the
projects and strategies they plan to implement based on their Action Plan.
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Note that the applicant is not required to provide exact locations for each project or strategy if
they are not yet defined. In this case, the application should identify which geographic locations
are under consideration for projects and strategies to be implemented and what analysis will be
used in a final determination.
3. Response to Merit Criteria
This section should respond to the criteria for evaluation and selection in Section G.1 of this
notice and include a compelling narrative to highlight how the application aligns with four
required merit criteria: #1 Safety Need; #2 Safety Impact; #3 Implementation Costs; and #4
Engagement and Collaboration. If the application is bundling supplemental planning and/or
demonstration activities, it also must include narrative responding to criterion #5 Supplemental
Planning and Demonstration Activities.
4. Project Readiness
The applicant must provide information to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to complete the
full scope of work in the application proposal within five years of when the grant agreement is
executed, with a particular focus on environmental permitting, design, and construction, as well
as right of way acquisition, and utility relocation, if applicable. Applicants should indicate if they
will be seeking permission to use roadway design standards that are different from those
generally applied by the State in which the project is located. As part of this portion of the
narrative, the applicant must include a detailed activity schedule that identifies all major project
and strategy milestones. Examples of such milestones include State and local planning
approvals; start and completion of the NEPA process and other Federal environmental reviews
and approvals including permitting; design completion; right of way acquisition; utility
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relocation; approval of plans, specifications, and estimates; procurement; public involvement;
partnership and implementation agreements; and construction. Environmental review
documentation should describe in detail known project impacts and possible mitigation for those
impacts. When a project will result in impacts, an award recipient must take steps to engage the
public. At a minimum, the project readiness narrative and detailed project activity schedule must
include the applicability and disposition of: NEPA and Federal environment reviews and
approvals; utility relocation; and right-of-way acquisition. For additional guidance and resources,
visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A.
Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet
Submit a completed Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet demonstrating that the jurisdiction
has an Action Plan that meets the requirements described in Table 1: Action Plan Components.
Map
The applicant must submit a map in both PDF and spatial format (e.g., Shapefile, .KML) that
shows the location of the jurisdiction and highlights the roadway network under the applicant’s
jurisdiction. The map should show the jurisdiction’s high-injury network and potential locations
of the projects and strategies.
Estimated Budget
This section of the application should describe the budget for the SS4A proposal. Applicants are
required to submit an Implementation Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget that provides an
overview of estimated activity costs, organized by all major cost elements. The budget should
provide itemized estimates of the costs by separating different locations and/or different sets of
proposed projects and strategies that address a similar safety problem and provide a breakdown
of the major individual components that contribute to each of the line items. This information
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should include capital costs for infrastructure safety improvements and/or costs associated with
behavioral and operational safety projects and strategies. The section should also distinguish
between the three eligible activity elements: (A) supplemental planning and demonstration
activities in support of an existing Action Plan; (B) conducting planning, design, and
development activities for projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan; and (C) carrying
out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan. See Section C.3 for more information on
eligible activities.
Implementation Grant Supplemental Estimated Budgets should show how different funding
sources will contribute to each activity and present the data in whole dollars. A template for the
supplemental budget is available at https://www.transportation.gov/grants/ss4a/implementation-
grant-budget-template. Funding sources should be grouped into four categories: SS4A funding
request, SS4A non-Federal match, total SS4A project cost, and other Federal funds (if
applicable), with specific amounts for each funding source. Estimated costs or value of in-kind
matches should also be provided. The budget should show how each source of funds will be
spent. This budget should not include any previously incurred expenses, or costs to be incurred
before the time of award and obligation because these expenses are not eligible for
reimbursement or cost-sharing. This table should be completed in a manner consistent with the
Federal funding amount, non-Federal share, and total project cost in the SF-424 form. This table
should be completed in a manner consistent with the SF-424 in terms of total project cost, SS4A
Federal share, and SS4A cost sharing/match.
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Table 5: Implementation Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget
SS4A Other
Federal SS4A Non- Federal
Funding Federal Total SS4A Funds (if
Activities Request Match Project Cost applicable)
Itemized Estimated Costs of the (A) Supplemental Action Plan Activities (if applicable)
Supplemental Planning or
Demonstration Activity #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Supplemental Planning or
Demonstration Activity #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Component $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Subtotal Budget for (A)
Supplemental Action
Plan Activities $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Itemized Estimated Costs of the (B) Planning, Design, and Development Activities
Planning, Design, and
Development - Location or
Project #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Planning, Design, and
Development - Location or
Project #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
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SS4A Other
Federal SS4A Non- Federal
Funding Federal Total SS4A Funds (if
Activities Request Match Project Cost applicable)
Individual Component for
Location or Project #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Subtotal Budget for (B)
Conducting Planning,
Design, and Development
Activities $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Itemized Estimated Costs of the (C) Proposed Projects and Strategies
Implementation - Location
or Project #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Implementation - Location
or Project #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Individual Component for
Location or Project #2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Subtotal Budget for (C)
Carrying Out Projects
and Strategies $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Budget for
Activities (A), (B), and
(C) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
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F. Submission Requirements and Deadlines
1. Address to Request Application Package
All grant application materials can be accessed at grants.gov under opportunity number DOT-
SS4A-FY26-01. Potential applicants may also request paper copies of materials at:
Email: SS4A@dot.gov
Phone: 202-948-3466 (Telecommunication Relay Service: 7-1-1)
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
W84-237
Washington, DC 20590
2. Unique Entity Identifier and the System for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant is required to:
a. Be registered in SAM (https://sam.gov/content/home) before submitting its
application;
b. Provide an active unique entity identifier in its application; and
c. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times
during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under
consideration by a Federal awarding agency.
DOT may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all
applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully
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complied with the requirements by the time DOT is ready to make an award, DOT may
determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a
basis for making an award to another applicant.
3. Submission Instructions
Applicants must submit their applications electronically via Valid Eval at:
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2026_planning_demo/signup for Planning and
Demonstration Grant applicants
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2026_implementation/signup for Implementation
Grant applicants
For technical assistance with Valid Eval, applicants should contact Valid Eval at
support@valideval.com.
4. Submission Dates and Times
This NOFO has a single application deadline for both Planning and Demonstration and
Implementation Grant applicants. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM (EDT) on
Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Applications cannot be submitted to Valid Eval after the deadline. Late
applications will not be considered unless there is a technical issue directly caused by the online
proposal submission system (Valid Eval), and the applicant contacts Valid Eval at
support@valideval.com describing the technical issue no later than 1:00 PM (EDT) on Tuesday,
May 26, 2026.
Pre-application submissions to review an applicant’s Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet
must be received via email at or before 5:00 PM (EDT) on April 24, 2026.
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5. Intergovernmental Review
This program is not subject to intergovernmental review and applicants should select "c" on Box
19 of the SF-424 form.
G. Application Review Information
1. Merit Criteria
This section specifies the criteria DOT will use to evaluate and select applications for SS4A
grant awards. All complete applications from eligible applicants will be reviewed against the
merit criteria. Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants, respectively, each
have their own set of application review and merit criteria.
i. Planning and Demonstration Grant Merit Criteria
For Planning and Demonstration Grants, DOT will use three merit criteria to evaluate proposals.
DOT will evaluate each application narrative against merit criteria #1 Safety Context using the
rubric table provided below. Individual ratings of High, Medium, Low, or Non-Responsive will
be assigned to each Planning and Demonstration Grant component included in the proposal –
developing a new Action Plan, conducting supplemental planning to update an existing plan,
and/or carrying out demonstration activities to inform the development or update of an Action
Plan. Together, the individual component ratings will roll up into an overall rating for the Safety
Context merit criterion.
DOT will also evaluate quantitative data in two criteria: #2 Safety Impact; and #3 Underserved
Communities. The adequacy and reasonableness of costs will also be considered.
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Merit Criterion #1: Safety Context Rubric Table
Merit Non-Responsive Low Medium High
Criteria
New/Updated The project is not The project is expected to make The project is expected to The project is expected to
Action Plan connected to an a very limited advancement in moderately advance safety strongly advance safety
Action Plan; the safety planning. The proposal planning, however the planning.
narrative indicates is weakly tied to safety narrative is missing clear or
the proposal is planning. detailed descriptions of one of The narrative includes ALL of
expected to the following components: the following components:
negatively affect The narrative is missing two or • A clear description of • A very clear and
roadway safety; or more of the components below, the Action Plan scope detailed description of
the narrative does and/or contains insufficient of work to be the Action Plan scope of
not contain sufficient information to assess the performed; work to be performed;
information. project’s impact: • A clear description of • A very clear and
• A clear description of the roadway safety detailed description of
the Action Plan scope issues that necessitate the specific local
of work to be Action Plan roadway safety issues
performed; development; that necessitate Action
• A clear description of • A clear and detailed Plan development;
the roadway safety approach to developing • A very clear and
issues that necessitate an Action Plan that detailed approach to
Action Plan contains all required developing an Action
development; components as Plan that contains all
• A clear and detailed described in Table 1 of required components as
approach to developing the NOFO, with a clear described in Table 1 of
an Action Plan that goal to engage with a the NOFO, with a clear
contains all required variety of stakeholders goal to engage with a
components as to identify evidence- variety of stakeholders
described in Table 1 of based, high-impact, to identify evidence-
the NOFO, with a clear low-cost, and based, high-impact,
goal to engage with a innovative strategies for low-cost, and
variety of stakeholders all road users. innovative strategies for
to identify evidence- all road users.
based, high-impact,
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Merit Non-Responsive Low Medium High
Criteria
low-cost, and
innovative strategies for
all road users.
Supplemental The project is not The project is expected to make The project is expected to The project is expected to
Planning connected to a very limited advancement in moderately advance safety strongly advance safety
Supplemental safety planning. The proposal planning, however the planning.
Planning activities; is weakly tied to safety narrative is missing clear or
the narrative planning. detailed descriptions of one of The narrative includes ALL of
indicates the the following components: the following components:
proposal is expected The narrative is missing two or • A clear description of • A very clear description
to negatively affect more of the components below, the Supplemental of the Supplemental
roadway safety; or and/or contains insufficient Planning scope of work Planning scope of work
the narrative does information to assess the to be performed; to be performed;
not contain sufficient project’s impact: • A clear description of • A very clear description
information. • A clear description of the roadway safety of the roadway safety
the Supplemental issues that necessitate issues that necessitate
Planning scope of work the Supplemental the Supplemental
to be performed; Planning activities; Planning activities;
• A clear description of • A clear description of • A very clear description
the roadway safety how the funded of how the funded
issues that necessitate Supplemental Planning Supplemental Planning
the Supplemental activities will inform an activities will inform an
Planning activities; Action Plan that Action Plan that
• A clear description of contains all required contains all required
how the funded components as components as
Supplemental Planning described in Table 1 of described in Table 1 of
activities will inform an the NOFO. the NOFO.
Action Plan and
identify evidence-based,
high-impact, low-cost,
and innovative
strategies for all road
users.
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Merit Non-Responsive Low Medium High
Criteria
Demonstration The project is not The project is expected to make The project is expected to The project is expected to
Activities connected to a very limited advancement in moderately advance safety strongly advance safety
Demonstration safety planning. The proposal planning, however the narrative planning.
Activities; the is weakly tied to safety is missing one of the following
narrative indicates planning. components: The narrative includes ALL of
the proposal is • A clear description of the following components:
expected to The narrative is missing two or the scope of work for • A very clear description
negatively affect more of the components below, the Demonstration of the scope of work for
roadway safety; or and/or contains insufficient Activities to be Demonstration
the narrative does information to assess the performed; Activities to be
not contain sufficient project’s impact: • A schedule showing performed;
information. • A clear description of when the • A detailed schedule
the scope of work for Demonstration showing when the
the Demonstration Activities will occur Demonstration
Activities to be and the start/end dates Activities will occur
performed; of the work; and the start/end dates
• A schedule showing • A clear description of of the work;
when the the roadway safety • A very clear description
Demonstration issues that necessitate of the roadway safety
Activities will occur the Demonstration issues that necessitate
and the start/end dates Activities; the Demonstration
of the work; • A clear description of Activities;
• A clear description of how the funded • A very clear description
the roadway safety Demonstration of how the funded
issues that necessitate Activities will inform Demonstration
the Demonstration an Action Plan that Activities will inform
Activities; contains all required an Action Plan that
• A clear description of components as contains all required
how the funded described in Table 1 of components as
Demonstration the NOFO, and help to described in Table 1 of
Activities will inform identify evidence-based, the NOFO, and help to
an Action Plan that high-impact strategies identify evidence-based,
contains all required for all road users;
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Merit Non-Responsive Low Medium High
Criteria
components as • A clear description of high-impact strategies
described in Table 1 of an approach to for all road users;
the NOFO, and help to measuring the potential • A very clear description
identify evidence-based, safety benefits of the of an approach to
high-impact strategies Demonstration measuring the potential
for all road users; Activities through data safety benefits of the
• A clear description of collection and Demonstration
an approach to evaluation. Activities through data
measuring the potential collection and
safety benefits of the evaluation.
Demonstration
Activities through data
collection and
evaluation.
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[Document continues — 33 more pages]