The CDLIS Modernization Grant is authorized by Section 4123 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This act establishes a program for modernizing CDLIS, including adding additional security features, upgrading the communications network, integrating medical certificate information, improving self-auditing and expanding the system's capability to exchange information.

The goal of this grant program is to assist States in making changes to their licensing systems to incorporate the new CDLIS specifications released in June 2009 (current version is 5.0.0). This includes the following projects, which serve as the national priorities:

1. Improvement of Central Site Data Quality States may apply for funds to assist in locating and correcting:

• pointers that exist at the Central Site but no data is present at the State;
• no pointer exists at the Central Site but data is present at the State;
• mismatches between Central Site and State data.

2. Improvement in the Management of the Change State of Record (CSOR) Process States may apply for funds to assist in correcting errors in:

• history data;
• mismatches between the Central Site and the State data;
• data not reported to the Central Site.

3. Integration of the Medical Certificate into the CDL Driver History Record State may apply for funds to assist in storage of information on the CDLIS driver history record that is relevant to the medical certificate (including the date of exam, medical examiner's name, medical examiner's license number, etc). This also includes storing the SPE and exemption/waiver effective and expiration dates; and the "V" restriction.

4. Implementation of Federal information technology security standards States may apply for funds to assist in compliance with applicable Federal information technology security standards. This includes encryption of data and communication networks, physical security of critical areas, and various other measures.

5. Name Expansion States may apply for funds to assist in expanding the data field size for driver names as required by the CDLIS specifications.

6. Structured Testing Applicants may apply for funds to assist in the structured testing of State systems beginning December 2010 and lasting until the implementation deadline of January 30, 2012.

7. Other Programming Requirements

This includes any other general programming that the State or other organizations must do to comply with CDLIS 5.0.0 (or later) specifications. Note: this does not include general programming to achieve compliance with 49 CFR Parts 383 and 384. Those types of projects are covered by CDL Program Improvement Grants (CFDA Number 20.232).

In reviewing applications submitted for this program, FMCSA will consider various factors, including:

• Compliance A State must be in compliance with the provisions of 49 CFR Parts 383 and 384 for eligibility under this grant.
• Prior performance Completion of identified programs and goals per the project plan submitted under previous grants awarded to the applicant, if applicable.
• Effective Use of Prior Grants The applicant has demonstrated timely use of available funds in previous awards, if applicable.
• Cost Effectiveness Applications will be evaluated and prioritized on the expected impact on safety relative to the investment of grant funds. Where appropriate, costs per unit will be calculated and compared with national averages to determine effectiveness. In other areas, proposed costs will be compared with historical information to confirm reasonableness.
• Applicability to announced priorities grant applications that specifically address these issues will be given priority consideration.
• Ability of the applicant to support the strategies and activities in the proposal for the entire project period of performance.
• Use of innovative approaches in executing a project plan to address identified safety issues.
• Feasibility of overall program coordination and implementation based upon the project plan.

The FMCSA reserves the right to waive informalities in evaluating applications.