Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (TTPSF)

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions and answers below are not official policy. For the official guidance on the TTP 

Safety Fund please refer to the latest Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) which is available 

at the TTP Safety home page.

Grant Administration

Where can I find additional information about the TTPSF?

Here is the link to the TTP Safety website: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/

What does a complete application consist of?

A complete application for the development of safety plans should consist of:

• A completed online application (which replaces the SF-424)

• A brief project narrative

A complete application for any other activity should consist of:

• A completed online application (which replaces the SF-424)

• A project narrative

• Supporting incident data

• Supporting Safety Plan

• And any other applicable supporting documentations

Please review the instructions provided in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and online 

at: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm

Should Tribes include a Tribal resolution in their applications?

No. It is not necessary to include a Tribal resolution with the application unless required by the 

Tribe's policies.

Can a Tribe submit more than one application?

Yes. There is no limit to the number of applications a Tribe may submit. Multiple applications 

can be submitted in each category. Each application will be evaluated separately. Only one 

project may be included on each application.

Can other sources of funds be used to finance an awarded project in advance of receiving 

TTPSF funds?

Yes. A Tribe can use other funding sources, including TTP Tribal Shares, to being work on a 

project that has been approved for funding on an official FHWA awards announcement, 

available on the web page: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. Once the 

TTPSF funds arrive the other funding source can be reimbursed.
If the Tribe is successful in their grant application for the TTPSF, can the funds be 

allocated directly to the Tribe, or must it be taken down through a BIA contracting 

mechanism?

TTPSF funds will be allocated to the BIA Agreement Tribes through the BIA Region Office, 

compact Tribes thru OSG, and FHWA Agreement Tribes thru the FHWA Referenced Funding 

Agreements (RFA).

What are the reporting requirements for this grant?

Required reporting follows the requirements for regular TTP funds.

May a Tribe include Indirect Cost Rates in the amount being requested from TTPSF?

An indirect cost of not more than 3% is allowed to be applied to pass thru funds. If the project is 

done by a Tribe's work force, then the ICR should be based from negotiated rate from the Dept. 

of Interior's Interior Business Center (IBC).

What should a Tribe do when a project is complete with some TTPSF funds unexpended?

Upon completion of a TTPSF project, funds that are not expended are to be recovered and 

returned to the TTPSF funding pool.

How long are TTPSF funds available for a project?

Any project not under contract within three fiscal years after the award announcement will forfeit 

unexpended funding. This funding will be returned to FHWA for redistribution under the next 

year's TTPSF awards. Applicants may request, in writing, a one-time, 1-year extension of this 

deadline from FHWA.

I put in a TTPSF application but funds have not been awarded. Can I begin working on my 

project now?

After an application has been submitted, the applicant may begin expenditures on the project that 

may possibly be reimbursed by TTPSF if the application is selected by funding. However, the 

applicant should understand there is no guarantee of an award, and the decision to implement the 

project is at their own risk. TTPSF cannot be used to reimburse a Tribe for work performed prior 

to an application for the work being submitted.

Selection Criteria

Note: Please reference the latest Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the official 

selection criteria.

What entities may apply for TTP Safety Funds?

Only federally recognized Tribes may apply for TTP Safety Funds.

Can another entity such as TTAP partner with a Tribal Government to apply for Safety 

Funds?

Yes. A partnership may be developed but the applicant must be a federally recognized Tribe.
Can another entity, other than federally recognized Tribes, apply for TTPSF?

No. An application can only be submitted by a federally recognized Tribe per 23 USC 202.

What types of projects can be funded by TTPSF?

TTPSF intends to fund projects that are expected to reduce the frequency and severity of fatal 

and serious injury incidents that result from use of transportation facilities. Proposed projects 

should fit into one or more of the categories of of safety planning, crash data improvement, road 

safety audits, or other eligible activities as listed in 23 USC 148(a)(4). Proposed projects must 

meet the same eligibility criteria as regular TTP funds as defined in 25 CFR 170.

What are examples of "leveraged private or other public funding"?

Funds expended for the PS&E development, in-kind work being performed using tribal staff time 

funded by other resources, staff time contributed to the project by other governments, donated 

meeting space for project activities, and leveraged funds from TTP Shares or another source are 

all examples of leveraged funding. No match is required for this grant.

What is considered "data" for the purposes of a TTPSF application?

The TTPSF application should include the best available incident data that accurately describes 

the transportation safety problems which will be addressed by the project. Although a listing of 

each crash in the data set may be provided as an appendix, the project narrative should 

summarize any crash history that is relevant to the project. Ideally the crash data summary will 

describe:

• Quantity of crashes

• Time period during which crashes occurred

• Severity (fatal, injury, property damage only)

• type of crashes, when relevant to the project

• contributing factors that are relevant to the project (i.e. light conditions, weather, road 

condition, impaired driving, vehicle failure, etc.)

Source of crash data will vary greatly from one community to the next. Ideally an enforcement 

agency or department of transportation can provide you a listing of crashes for a 3-5 year 

timeframe. In some cases this information is not available and you may include emergency 

responder call logs, news articles, or statements about crashes that have been collected from the 

public.

Other non-incident data may also be beneficial to include when it helps to document a need for 

the project. Examples of non-incident data include seatbelt surveys, traffic volumes, pedestrian 

counts, citation records, and letters of support.

Is a resolution required to authorize an application?

No. FHWA does not require a resolution to accompany your application. However, some Tribal 

governments have internal policy for submitting grant applications which requires a resolution be 

adopted. For complete submission requirements for a TTP Safety Fund Application please 

reference the NOFA.
Is there a dollar limit for project requests?

No. There is no dollar limit for the TTPSF requests. However, the NOFA encourages 

applications with scalable requests to allow more Tribes to receive funding.

Do I need to attach my safety plan or RSA to my TTPSF application?

Yes, you must at least attach the pages of your safety plan which identify the strategy for which 

you are seeking funds. 

Eligibility

Where can I find the eligibility list for the TTP Safety Fund?

Eligible projects for the TTP Safety Fund under the FAST Act include: development and 

revision of transportation safety plans, crash data improvement, road safety audits, and other 

activities, primarily infrastructure improvements, as listed in 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4) which can be 

found online here.

When is a Tribe eligible for funding to update an existing transportation safety plan?

In general, a tribe must wait until the TTPSF-funded transportation safety plan is three years old 

before acquiring additional TTPSF funding to update the plan. However, FHWA encourages 

tribes to update transportation safety plans on a regular basis which may be more frequent than 

every three years.

Is the TTPSF limited to roadway safety or can projects address other modes of travel such 

as ATV safety?

All modes of travel are potentially eligible for TTPSF. The fund is designed to address 

transportation safety problems that are being experienced in Indian Country.

Can the TTPSF fund staff time for an existing program?

TTP funds cannot be used for ongoing program support per 2 CFR 200. However, staff time is 

an eligible expense for completion of a project identified in the application. For example, staff 

time is allowable for projects.

Can TTPSF pay for travel related to the project?

Costs for travel-related expenses are allowable, provided such expenses are for specific services 

benefiting the project. 

Can TTPSF pay for Training expenses?

Costs of training personnel (but not Federal civilian or military employees), for highway safety 

purposes are allowable when identified in a Tribe's safety plan.

Development costs of new training curricula and materials are allowable if they do not duplicate 

materials already developed for similar purposes by U.S. DOT/NHTSA/FHWA or by 

States. Costs are allowable to modify existing materials to meet particular instructional needs.

Costs are allowable for portable skid platforms and driving simulators. However, proposed plans 

for this equipment must be part of a NHTSA-approved training program.
What items are specifically ineligible?

Automated traffic enforcement systems may not be purchased, operated, or maintained with 

TTPSF.

Training of employees of Federal civilian and Federal military agencies.

Supplanting, including: (a) replacing routine and/or existing State or local expenditures with 

Federal grant funds and/or (b) using Federal grant funds for costs of activities that constitute 

general expenses required to carry out the overall responsibilities of State, local, or Federally 

recognized Indian Tribal governments (2 CFR Part 225 Appendix B.19).

Normally provided police and fire services are ineligible. (2 CFR 200)

Alcoholic beverages for any consumption purposes or techniques for determining driver 

impairment are not allowable (See Part III, D.3.). (2 CFR Part 225 Appendix B 3)

Entertainment costs, including amusement and social activities and expenses directly associated 

with such costs (such as tickets to shows or sports events, meals, lodging, rentals, transportation, 

and gratuities). (2 CFR Part 225 Appendix B 14)

Construction, rehabilitation, or remodeling for any buildings or structures or for purchase of 

office furnishings and fixtures are not eligible for TTPSF.

Examples of office furnishings and fixtures

• Chair • Bookcase • Portable Partition

• Table • Filing Cabinet • Picture, Wall Clock

• Shelving • Floor Covering • Draperies and Hardware

• Coat Rack • Office Planter • Fixed Lighting/Lamp

Additional Information

Does my data improvement project require sharing data with other governments?

It is mandatory that all fatal crash reports be shared with a state government for inclusion into the 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System 

(FARS) database. This information is used to generate national statistics that support 

transportation safety efforts such as the TTP Safety Fund. 

For non-fatal crashes it is not required that the Tribe distribute any information. However, an 

ideal data improvement project will involve sharing all crash data with state government. Doing 

so may enable access to additional resources. In fact, some states are able to provide software 

and training for electronic crash reporting with significant cost savings to the Tribe.

What standards apply to purchases made with TTPSF dollars? 

For purchases of the items listed below, the project application must document that the purchase 

will comply with the applicable standard. Costs for the following items are subject to compliance 

with any applicable standards and performance specifications and inclusion on the applicable 

Conforming Products List (CPL) established by NHTSA, the Research and Innovative 

Technology Administration (RITA), the American College of Surgeons, or by other nationally 

recognized standard-setting agencies.
• All traffic control devices (such as signs and pavement markings) on public roadways 

are required to comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. This 

manual can be found online at http://MUTCD.FHWA.DOT.gov

Where can I obtain answers to additional questions?

Please email further questions to TTPSF@dot.gov