Indian Highway Safety Grant - Lifesavers Conference

The Indian Highway Safety Grant: Lifesavers Conference is a funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Justice Services (OJS), Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP). This discretionary federal grant program is designed to support federally recognized tribal governments by facilitating their participation in the annual Lifesavers Conference, a prominent national event focused on improving highway safety. The primary goal is to enhance the capacity of tribal governments to implement effective traffic safety initiatives by providing exposure to expert-led sessions, national best practices, and policy updates in road safety. The grant aligns with the legislative intent of the Highway Safety Act of 1966 (Title 23, Section 402), which provides funding to reduce motor vehicle crashes, fatalities, injuries, and property damage, especially within Indian Country. As part of this mission, the Indian Highway Safety Program awards reimbursable grants specifically aimed at enabling tribal employees working in traffic safety roles to attend key training opportunities such as the Lifesavers Conference. The FY2026 Lifesavers Conference grant is intended to offset registration and travel costs, allowing tribal staff to benefit from training in grant writing, strategy development, problem identification, and traffic safety data analysis. Eligible applicants for this opportunity are limited to employees of federally recognized Native American tribal governments who are actively engaged in traffic safety-related work. This includes law enforcement officers, occupant protection specialists, and highway safety program staff. Applicants must submit a comprehensive application package that includes tribal contact details, traffic safety problem statements, supporting data, a proposed travel and registration budget, and proof of indirect cost rate approval. The grant application must be signed by both the applicant and their supervisor, with all required fields completed, including agreement to the terms and responsibilities outlined by the BIA IHSP. This grant is structured as a reimbursable award. Applicants must first expend funds for travel and registration and then submit documentation for monthly reimbursement. Required documentation includes trip reports, financial documentation, and receipts, which must comply with federal travel regulations. The BIA emphasizes that incomplete applications—those lacking initials, signatures, indirect cost letters, or proper budgeting forms—will not be considered for funding. The program operates in compliance with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Single Audit Act of 1984, requiring all participating tribes to meet specific federal standards for grants administration. The application window for the FY2026 Lifesavers Conference Grant opened on January 6, 2026, and will close on March 13, 2026. This submission period reflects a one-time opportunity tied to the upcoming Lifesavers Conference session scheduled for April 18, 2026, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland. There are no recurring or rolling deadlines for this grant cycle. Funding is capped at a maximum of $5,000 per award and a minimum of $650, with up to 25 awards expected to be made under this solicitation. For support during the application process, the grantor's main point of contact is Kimberly Belone, Program Analyst, who can be reached at (505) 563-3900 or via email at [email protected]. Additional logistical inquiries regarding conference participation and related grant applications may be directed to Davin Cheykaychi at (505) 563-3139. All application materials should be submitted via email or mailed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Indian Highway Safety Program, located at 1001 Indian School Road NW, Suite 251, Albuquerque, NM 87104. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the detailed instructions provided in the official IHSP application packet to ensure compliance with all program requirements.

Ensure all fields are complete, include required attachments, and comply with reimbursement conditions.