Indian Highway Safety Occupant Protection Grant

The Indian Highway Safety Occupant Protection Grant is administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, specifically through the Office of Justice Services (OJS) and its Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP). This initiative supports federally recognized tribes in implementing targeted traffic safety interventions, aiming to reduce the incidence and severity of traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries occurring within tribal communities. It is part of the broader federal highway safety efforts authorized under the Highway Safety Act of 1966 (23 U.S.C. Section 402), and is tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), emphasizing the federal government's ongoing commitment to tribal road safety. The Occupant Protection Grant, as part of the IHSP, focuses particularly on increasing child passenger safety and overall seat belt use among Native populations. The grant provides funding for child passenger safety (CPS) programs, including the purchase and distribution of car seats, conducting educational outreach, hosting seat inspection events, and training tribal staff as CPS technicians. Eligible applicants must be federally recognized tribal governments. The program requires a problem statement backed by data to demonstrate the need for a CPS program, and the inclusion of measurable performance targets. Notably, while the grant is federally funded, it operates on a reimbursement basis—tribes must first expend their funds and submit documentation to receive reimbursement. Funds are restricted to specific allowable uses. These include car seats, safety equipment, and training expenses such as registration and travel costs to CPS conferences. However, indirect costs cannot be applied to the reimbursement of car seats or related shipping fees, per 2 CFR 225 Appendix B.12 and 2 CFR Part 200.434. A Tribal Resolution and an approved Indirect Cost Rate letter must accompany the application. Applications must be fully completed; omissions may result in disqualification. Monthly financial and performance reports are required throughout the grant term. To apply, tribes must complete and submit the application form provided by the BIA IHSP. The form requires general tribal information, details about the person completing the application and the tribal grant coordinator, and documentation of any past traffic safety grant awards. It also requires a detailed problem statement supported by data, a description of the proposed activities, estimated number of CPS clinics and seats to be distributed, and a project budget. The presence of a certified CPS technician, or a plan to secure one, is a prerequisite for funding eligibility. Tribes must also report whether they have a child safety seat law and whether they have conducted usage surveys. The deadline for submission is May 1, 2026, for funding consideration in the following fiscal year. Applications can be submitted electronically via email to [email protected] or mailed to the IHSP office in Albuquerque, NM. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this grant. Though no recurrence is stated directly, the due date phrasing and historical context suggest the grant is issued annually. For assistance with the application or to inquire about grant writing training, applicants may contact the IHSP at 505-563-3139. This grant opportunity presents a focused, impactful means for tribal governments to enhance child passenger safety and occupant protection on their lands. Through careful planning, data-driven proposals, and community outreach, tribes can leverage this funding to reduce injuries and save lives on their roadways.