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.Apply for 693JJ921R000022
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Regional Toxicology Liaison Demonstration Project?
The Regional Toxicology Liaison Demonstration Project is a discretionary cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is designed to strengthen how states detect, test, and report drug involvement in driving incidents by adding specialized regional personnel (toxicology liaisons) who support coordination, training, and more consistent practices.
What problem is this grant trying to solve?
The project targets widespread inconsistency across jurisdictions in the toxicology pipeline tied to impaired driving. Differences can include who gets tested, which biological specimens are collected (such as blood versus other specimen types), which drug panels are used, what cutoff thresholds define a positive result, how quickly samples are processed, and how results are recorded and shared. These variations make it hard to measure drug-impaired driving accurately, compare trends across states, or build reliable evidence for policy and enforcement.
Why is NHTSA focusing on drug-impaired driving now?
NHTSA points to increasing concern that drug-impaired driving knowledge and practice lag behind the more established alcohol-impaired driving system. The agency also cites broader conditions that may increase drug presence among drivers, including the opioid epidemic, expanding marijuana legalization, and widespread prescription medication use, along with research showing an upward trend in drug-positive drivers (including increased THC prevalence over time).
What evidence does NHTSA cite to support the need for this program?
NHTSA cites national and state research indicating a clear upward trend in drug-positive drivers. Examples mentioned include National Roadside Survey results showing an increase 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.
What is a "toxicology pipeline" in the context of this opportunity?
In this context, the toxicology pipeline refers to the end-to-end process for toxicology testing related to driving incidents: deciding who gets tested, collecting specimens, selecting drug panels and cutoff thresholds, processing samples in laboratories, and then recording, reporting, and sharing results with the relevant partners and systems.
Which regions does the Toxicology Liaison Program cover?
The program is intended to cover NHTSA Regions 5, 7, and 9.
How many toxicology liaison positions are expected to be created?
The recipient is expected to establish three toxicology liaison positions, with each liaison serving as a connector and technical resource across states and stakeholders in their assigned region.
What do the toxicology liaisons actually do?
The liaisons are intended to function as regional connectors and problem-solvers. They are expected to improve communication and coordination among state toxicology laboratories, highway safety partners, and the broader criminal justice system, while supporting training and collaboration and encouraging more standardized testing and reporting practices across jurisdictions.
Who are the key stakeholders the liaisons are expected to work with?
Based on the opportunity description, liaisons are expected to work across state toxicology laboratories, highway safety partners, and the broader criminal justice system. The notice also highlights coordination with Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) analysts and state laboratories to improve the completeness and consistency of fatality-related toxicology information.
What are the main objectives for the liaisons?
NHTSA describes several main objectives: (1) improve understanding of the prevalence and scope of drug-impaired driving by improving toxicology testing and data quality; (2) help laboratories find common ground across jurisdictions on practices that are currently fragmented (panels, specimens, cutoffs); (3) improve how drug-impaired driving toxicology data is collected and reported so it is more complete and comparable; and (4) increase ongoing coordination and communication among labs and state drug-impaired driving partners.
How does the project relate to standardization of testing and reporting?
A core purpose of the liaisons is to reduce fragmentation by supporting steps toward more standardized testing and reporting practices. The grant description emphasizes that current differences in panels, specimen practices, cutoffs, and reporting formats hinder comparisons and trend analysis, and the liaisons are positioned to help partners align on shared approaches.
Does this program focus only on fatalities, or on impaired driving more broadly?
The overall focus is drug-impaired driving toxicology in general, but the opportunity places a notable emphasis on working with FARS analysts and state labs to improve the completeness and consistency of toxicology information tied to fatalities, since these data are widely used to inform public understanding and policy.
What is FARS, and why is it mentioned?
FARS is the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. It is mentioned because NHTSA emphasizes ensuring fatality-related toxicology information is comprehensive and consistent, and because these data are widely used to shape public understanding and policy discussions about impaired driving.
How will NHTSA measure success for this demonstration project?
Success is described in outcome-oriented terms but tracked using tangible outputs and activity indicators. The opportunity mentions deliverables such as reports and assessments, plus documented outreach and technical assistance activities like webinars, seminars, and meetings. The expectation is that structured engagement and practical guidance will translate into improved testing coverage, better processing efficiency over time, and more reliable reporting.
What kinds of activities and deliverables are expected?
The description highlights deliverables such as reports and assessments, as well as outreach and technical assistance documented through activities like webinars, seminars, and meetings. The intent is for frequent, structured engagement and practical technical support to drive improvements in coordination and consistency.
Is this opportunity a grant or a cooperative agreement?
It is issued as a cooperative agreement. That means NHTSA anticipates substantial involvement in the project, rather than a hands-off relationship.
What does "substantial involvement" mean in this context?
The notice explains that, as a cooperative agreement, NHTSA expects to be actively involved in the project. The specific day-to-day form of involvement is not detailed in the summary provided, but the key point is that it is not intended to be a purely recipient-led effort with minimal federal engagement.
What is the legal authority for this funding opportunity?
The program authority is the Highway Safety Act of 1966, as amended, referenced through 23 U.S.C. provisions in the notice.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity was open to unrestricted applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility language that may appear in the full posting.
How many awards does NHTSA expect to make?
NHTSA expected a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $675,000.
What is the overall intent of the demonstration project?
The intent is to demonstrate that dedicated regional toxicology liaisons can measurably improve coordination, support movement toward standardization, and increase the quality and comparability of toxicology data related to drug-impaired driving. NHTSA frames this as a way to give states and the public a clearer picture of the problem and stronger tools to address it.
What kinds of inconsistencies across states does NHTSA highlight?
NHTSA highlights inconsistencies in who is tested, what specimens are collected, which drug panels are used, what cutoff thresholds define positive results, how quickly samples are processed, and how results are recorded and shared. It also notes that some states have coordinated programs while others rely on ad hoc approaches or must ship samples out of state, and that practices can vary even between counties within the same state.
How are the liaisons expected to help laboratories and partners day-to-day?
In practical terms, they are expected to serve as connectors and technical resources who can reduce friction between agencies, support training and collaboration, and encourage alignment on shared approaches for collecting, testing, interpreting, and reporting toxicology evidence tied to impaired driving.
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