Regional Toxicology Liaison Demonstration Project | 693JJ921R000022

Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JJ921R000022

The Regional Toxicology Liaison Demonstration Project is a discretionary cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aimed at strengthening how states detect, test, and report drug involvement in driving incidents. NHTSA frames the need around the fact that drug-impaired driving knowledge and practice still lag behind the more mature alcohol-impaired driving system, even as the opioid epidemic, expanding marijuana legalization, and widespread prescription medication use increase the likelihood that drivers have drugs in their system. NHTSA cites national and state research showing a clear upward trend in drug-positive drivers, including its National Roadside Survey results showing a rise in weekend-night drivers testing positive for drugs (other than alcohol) and a notable increase in THC prevalence over time, as well as Washington State findings indicating higher marijuana presence in drivers after retail legalization.

A central problem the grant targets is inconsistency across jurisdictions in nearly every part of the toxicology pipeline. States and localities differ on who gets tested, what biological specimens are collected (for example, blood versus other specimen types), which drug panels are used, what cutoff thresholds determine a positive finding, how quickly samples are processed, and how results are ultimately recorded and shared. Some states have well-coordinated toxicology programs, while others rely on ad hoc approaches or must ship samples out of state for analysis. In some places, practices even differ from one county or lab system to another within the same state. NHTSA argues that these differences make it difficult to accurately measure the scope of drug-impaired driving, compare trends across states, or build reliable evidence to guide policy and enforcement.

The project’s core strategy is to add specialized personnel capacity by creating a Toxicology Liaison Program covering NHTSA Regions 5, 7, and 9. The recipient of the cooperative agreement is expected to establish three toxicology liaison positions, with each liaison serving as a connector and technical resource across states and stakeholders in the assigned regions. The liaisons are intended to improve communications and coordination among state toxicology laboratories, highway safety partners, and the broader criminal justice system, while also supporting training, collaboration, and steps toward more standardized testing and reporting practices. In practical terms, the liaisons function as regional problem-solvers who can help labs and partners align on shared approaches, reduce friction between agencies, and encourage more consistent methods for collecting and interpreting toxicology evidence tied to impaired driving.

NHTSA lays out several main objectives for the liaisons. First, they are expected to help develop a clearer understanding of the prevalence and scope of drug-impaired driving by improving toxicology testing and the quality of data collection. Second, they should help find common ground among testing laboratories across jurisdictions, which speaks directly to the fragmentation in panels, specimen practices, and cutoffs. Third, they should improve how drug-impaired driving toxicology data is collected and reported, so the resulting information is more complete, comparable, and useful for decision-making. Fourth, they should increase ongoing coordination and communication among labs and state drug-impaired driving partners, supporting a more unified system rather than isolated efforts. A notable emphasis is placed on working with Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) analysts and state labs to ensure toxicology information tied to fatalities is comprehensive and consistent, since these data are widely used to inform public understanding and policy discussions.

Success is described in outcome-oriented terms, but measured with tangible outputs and activity indicators. NHTSA expects the program to show progress through deliverables such as reports and assessments, and through documented outreach and technical assistance activities, including webinars, seminars, and meetings. The idea is that frequent, structured engagement paired with practical guidance will translate into better testing coverage, improved turnaround and processing efficiency over time, and more reliable reporting that can support enforcement strategies and public health responses.

Administratively, this opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning NHTSA anticipates substantial involvement in the project rather than a hands-off grant. The program authority comes from the Highway Safety Act of 1966, as amended (referenced in the notice through 23 U.S.C. provisions). The opportunity was open to unrestricted applicant types (subject to any additional eligibility language in the full posting), with a single expected award and an award ceiling of $675,000. The overall intent is demonstration-focused: to prove that dedicated regional toxicology liaisons can measurably improve coordination, standardization, and data quality around drug-impaired driving, ultimately giving states and the public a clearer picture of the problem and stronger tools to address it.

• The Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Toxicology Liaison Demonstration Project" 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 Jun 29, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 2021. (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 $675,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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