Opportunity Information: Apply for NHTSA 693JJ926R000024 FY26
The Innovative Traffic Safety Enforcement (ITSE) Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) designed to help state and local partners build the next generation of traffic safety enforcement strategies. The program is focused on developing evidence-based enforcement projects that can clearly demonstrate results, especially by reducing motor vehicle crashes tied to risky driving behaviors. While NHTSA is open to fresh, creative upgrades to existing countermeasures, the emphasis is on approaches that can be tested, shown to work, and then used widely by other jurisdictions rather than remaining one-off pilots.
A central requirement of the ITSE program is that funded projects should be both repeatable and scalable. In practical terms, that means NHTSA is looking for models that can be implemented by law enforcement agencies across the country, not just in a single city, county, or state. Transferability is part of the core design: projects should produce methods, tools, protocols, training, partnerships, or evaluation findings that other agencies can adopt with reasonable cost and effort. The overall intent is to create enforcement programs that do more than generate activity; they should be able to show measurable effectiveness in reducing crashes related to the targeted risky behaviors.
The opportunity also signals that NHTSA and the Department of Transportation want funded work to align with broader federal priorities reflected in DOTs mission and relevant executive orders. This typically means proposals may be stronger when they connect traffic safety outcomes to wider public goals such as equitable safety benefits, data-driven decision-making, community trust, and modernized practices, depending on how applicants frame their approach and document expected impacts. The notice makes clear that innovation alone is not the finish line; the project should be structured so it can be evaluated and positioned for adoption beyond the initial test location.
Eligibility is broad but capability-based. Applicants can include state, county, city, or township governments; special district governments; public or state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); and other eligible entities. Regardless of entity type, applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity and relevant experience to manage, coordinate, and implement the activities described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). In other words, being eligible on paper is not enough; applicants must show they can actually administer the program responsibly and deliver the proposed work, supported by the required application documentation.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number NHTSA 693JJ926R000024 (FY26). The program uses a grant funding instrument and is listed under CFDA number 20.614. NHTSA expects to make about 10 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $20,000,000. The original closing date is listed as September 1, 2027, and the opportunity was created on August 3, 2026. Overall, ITSE is positioned for applicants that can design and rigorously evaluate innovative enforcement approaches, prove they reduce crashes connected to risky driving, and package the results in a way that law enforcement agencies nationwide can replicate.Apply for NHTSA 693JJ926R000024 FY26
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Traffic Safety Enforcement (ITSE) Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.614.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-09-01.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Innovative Traffic Safety Enforcement (ITSE) Grant Program FAQs
What is the Innovative Traffic Safety Enforcement (ITSE) Grant Program?
The Innovative Traffic Safety Enforcement (ITSE) Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is intended to help state and local partners build the next generation of traffic safety enforcement strategies.
What is the main goal of the ITSE program?
The main goal is to develop evidence-based enforcement projects that can clearly demonstrate results, especially by reducing motor vehicle crashes tied to risky driving behaviors.
What kinds of projects does NHTSA want to fund through ITSE?
NHTSA is looking for innovative traffic safety enforcement approaches that can be tested, shown to work, and then used widely by other jurisdictions. The emphasis is not just on new ideas, but on projects structured to produce measurable effectiveness in reducing crashes related to targeted risky behaviors.
Does ITSE support improvements to existing enforcement countermeasures?
Yes. NHTSA is open to fresh, creative upgrades to existing countermeasures, as long as the approach can be evaluated and clearly demonstrate results.
What does it mean that projects must be "evidence-based"?
In this context, "evidence-based" means the enforcement project should be designed so it can be tested and evaluated, with outcomes that can show whether it reduces crashes tied to risky driving behaviors. The program stresses demonstrable, measurable effectiveness rather than activity for its own sake.
What is the difference between an innovative pilot and what ITSE is asking for?
ITSE may involve testing new approaches, but the expectation is that funded work will not remain a one-off pilot. Projects should be positioned for adoption beyond the initial location by producing methods, tools, protocols, training, partnerships, or evaluation findings that others can implement.
What does "repeatable and scalable" mean for an ITSE project?
Repeatable and scalable means the funded project should produce a model that can be implemented by law enforcement agencies across the country, not just in a single city, county, or state. NHTSA is looking for approaches that can be transferred to other jurisdictions with reasonable cost and effort.
Why is "transferability" a core requirement of ITSE?
The intent of ITSE is to create enforcement programs that can be used widely. Transferability is essential because NHTSA wants the results to extend beyond the original test location and support adoption by other agencies nationwide.
What kinds of deliverables could make a project more transferable?
Based on the opportunity description, transferability could be supported by producing methods, tools, protocols, training materials, partnerships frameworks, or evaluation findings that other agencies can adopt with reasonable cost and effort.
Is innovation the only thing NHTSA is looking for?
No. The opportunity states that innovation alone is not the finish line. The project should be structured so it can be evaluated and positioned for adoption beyond the initial test location, with measurable effectiveness in reducing crashes tied to risky driving behaviors.
How should applicants think about evaluation and results?
Applicants should plan for rigorous evaluation and clear demonstration of results. The ITSE program stresses that projects should do more than generate enforcement activity; they should be able to show measurable effectiveness in reducing crashes related to the risky behaviors being targeted.
What broader federal priorities should proposals align with?
The opportunity indicates that NHTSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation want funded work to align with broader federal priorities reflected in DOT's mission and relevant executive orders. The notice suggests proposals may be stronger when they connect traffic safety outcomes to wider public goals such as equitable safety benefits, data-driven decision-making, community trust, and modernized practices, depending on how applicants frame and document expected impacts.
Who is eligible to apply for the ITSE grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, city, or township governments; special district governments; public or state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); and other eligible entities.
Is meeting the eligibility category enough to be competitive or qualify?
No. The opportunity notes that eligibility is capability-based. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity and relevant experience to manage, coordinate, and implement the activities described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Being eligible on paper is not enough without evidence that the organization can administer the program responsibly and deliver the proposed work.
What is the funding opportunity number for this ITSE program?
The funding opportunity number is NHTSA 693JJ926R000024 (FY26).
What funding instrument is used for ITSE?
The opportunity uses a grant funding instrument.
What is the CFDA number associated with the ITSE program?
The program is listed under CFDA number 20.614.
How many awards does NHTSA expect to make?
NHTSA expects to make about 10 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) under ITSE?
The award ceiling is up to $20,000,000.
What is the closing date for the opportunity?
The original closing date is listed as September 1, 2027.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 3, 2026.
What types of risky driving behaviors are emphasized?
The description does not list specific behaviors. It states the focus is on reducing motor vehicle crashes tied to risky driving behaviors, with enforcement projects designed to demonstrate measurable crash reduction for the targeted behaviors selected by the applicant.
Are projects required to focus on crash reduction rather than enforcement activity?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes that projects should do more than generate activity. They should be able to show measurable effectiveness in reducing crashes related to targeted risky driving behaviors.
What is the overall intent of ITSE funding?
The overall intent is to design and rigorously evaluate innovative enforcement approaches, prove they reduce crashes connected to risky driving, and package results so law enforcement agencies nationwide can replicate them.
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