Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JJ920R000060
The State Notification to Consumers of Motor Vehicle Recall Status grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), designed to help state governments (including U.S. territories) build and run systems that alert vehicle owners and lessees about open safety recalls when they interact with the state around vehicle registration. The core idea is simple: many vehicles on the road still have unresolved safety defects or noncompliance issues covered by federal recalls, and traditional manufacturer notification methods do not reach everyone or do not always lead to repairs. By adding recall checks and consumer notifications at the state level, especially during routine registration-related transactions, NHTSA aims to increase consumer awareness and boost recall repair (completion) rates, which in turn should reduce crash and injury risk tied to known vehicle defects.
Funding supports three main pieces of work. First, states must develop or enhance a reliable method for identifying whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, typically by using the vehicle identification number (VIN) to query recall status. Second, states must implement a process to inform owners and lessees about those open recalls at the time of registration or at other "touch points" where the consumer and the state intersect around the vehicle. NHTSA explicitly encourages states to think beyond a single moment of contact and propose frequent, practical notification opportunities, such as alerts during registration renewals, title transactions, or through emissions and safety inspection stations if the state has them. Third, states are expected to evaluate how well the notification program works by analyzing recall completion outcomes after notifications are issued, including developing ways to determine which vehicles were actually remedied following a state-issued notice. NHTSA also signals interest in ongoing data analysis and even consumer attitude assessment to understand what notification approaches are most effective at motivating repairs.
The opportunity is grounded in NHTSA's broader safety mission and the legal framework of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Under federal law, manufacturers must notify owners and purchasers about safety-related defects or noncompliance and provide a remedy, and they often rely on state vehicle registration records (obtained through contractors) to find current owners and mail recall notices. Even with those requirements, completion rates vary widely by vehicle age, vehicle type, and how owners perceive risk, leaving tens of millions of vehicles with unrepaired recalls on the road at any given time. NHTSA previously explored this approach through a FAST Act pilot, including a grant awarded to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration in 2017, with consumer notifications beginning in 2018. Interest from other states and early promise from that pilot helped motivate NHTSA to expand support for similar state-driven notification programs.
Operationally, award recipients are required to run the notification program for two years and then evaluate results. NHTSA is looking for proposals that are both workable and inventive, as long as they meet the basic requirement of notifying consumers at meaningful state-vehicle interaction points and incorporate a plan to measure performance using recall completion data. The funding opportunity (Number 693JJ920R000060, CFDA 20.614) lists an award ceiling of $1,500,000, with an expectation of up to six awards. The original posting date was May 7, 2020, with an original application closing date of September 15, 2020, and eligibility is limited to state governments (including territories).Apply for 693JJ920R000060
- The Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "State Notification to Consumers of Motor Vehicle Recall Status" 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 May 07, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 15, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the State Notification to Consumers of Motor Vehicle Recall Status grant?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to help state governments (including U.S. territories) build and operate systems that alert vehicle owners and lessees about open safety recalls during state vehicle registration-related interactions.
What problem is this grant designed to address?
Many vehicles on the road have unresolved safety defects or noncompliance issues covered by federal recalls. Manufacturer notification methods do not always reach current owners or do not always lead to repairs. This grant supports state-level recall checks and consumer notifications to increase awareness and improve recall repair (completion) rates, reducing crash and injury risk tied to known defects.
Who is the funding agency?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments, including U.S. territories.
What are the main activities the grant will fund?
Funding supports three primary areas of work: (1) developing or enhancing a reliable method to identify open recalls for a specific vehicle (typically using the VIN to query recall status); (2) implementing a process to notify owners and lessees about open recalls at the time of registration or other state-vehicle "touch points"; and (3) evaluating program effectiveness by analyzing recall completion outcomes after notifications are issued and developing ways to determine whether vehicles were remedied following a state-issued notice.
How are states expected to identify whether a vehicle has an open recall?
States are expected to develop or enhance a reliable method to identify open recalls, typically by using the vehicle identification number (VIN) to query a vehicle's recall status.
When are consumers expected to be notified about open recalls?
Notifications are expected at meaningful points where consumers interact with the state around the vehicle, such as during vehicle registration transactions. NHTSA also encourages states to propose frequent and practical notification opportunities beyond a single moment of contact.
What kinds of "touch points" does NHTSA encourage for notifications?
NHTSA encourages states to consider multiple practical notification opportunities, including registration renewals, title transactions, and (where applicable) interactions through emissions and safety inspection stations.
What does the grant require regarding evaluation and performance measurement?
Award recipients are expected to evaluate how well the notification program works by analyzing recall completion outcomes after notices are issued. This includes developing ways to determine which vehicles were actually remedied following a state-issued notification and incorporating a plan to measure performance using recall completion data.
Does NHTSA encourage any additional analysis beyond recall completion rates?
Yes. NHTSA signals interest in ongoing data analysis and may include consumer attitude assessment to understand which notification approaches most effectively motivate recall repairs.
How long must award recipients operate the notification program?
Award recipients are required to run the notification program for two years and then evaluate results.
What types of proposals is NHTSA looking for?
NHTSA is looking for proposals that are workable and inventive, provided they meet the basic requirements: notifying consumers at meaningful state-vehicle interaction points and including a plan to measure performance using recall completion data.
What is the legal or policy foundation for this opportunity?
The opportunity is grounded in NHTSA's broader safety mission and the legal framework of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which requires manufacturers to notify owners and purchasers about safety-related defects or noncompliance and provide a remedy.
How do manufacturers typically obtain owner information for recall notifications?
Manufacturers often rely on state vehicle registration records (obtained through contractors) to identify current owners and mail recall notices.
Why are state notifications needed if manufacturers already send recall notices?
Even with manufacturer notification requirements, recall completion rates vary by vehicle age, vehicle type, and how owners perceive risk. As a result, tens of millions of vehicles can have unrepaired recalls at any given time. State notifications at routine registration-related interactions are intended to increase awareness and encourage repairs.
Was there a prior pilot or earlier effort related to this approach?
Yes. NHTSA previously explored this approach through a FAST Act pilot, including a grant awarded to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration in 2017, with consumer notifications beginning in 2018. Early promise and interest from other states helped motivate NHTSA to expand support for similar programs.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is 693JJ920R000060, and the CFDA number is 20.614.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $1,500,000.
How many awards does NHTSA expect to make?
NHTSA expects to make up to six awards.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date was May 7, 2020.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was September 15, 2020.
What is the ultimate safety goal of these state notification systems?
The goal is to increase consumer awareness of open recalls and boost recall completion rates, which should reduce crashes and injuries associated with known vehicle safety defects or noncompliance issues.
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