To increase intergovernmental activities and enforcement efforts among public agencies to reduce Federal and State fuel tax evasion.

Funds made available shall be used only to expand or enhance intergovernmental efforts to increase motor fuel tax enforcement and payments; to supplement motor fuel

credit: Wikipedia

tax examinations and criminal investigations; and to increase research and training in the area of fuel tax evasion.

This program is part of the Highway Use Tax Evasion program which also may provide funds to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for their efforts as outlined in 23 U.S.C.

143.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2016: Funds have not been awarded for FY 2015 and 2016 as of May 2017. However, prior awards are still used to support training, and a few individual projects in the States. These may include enforcement programs, and enhancements to data systems. Fiscal Year 2017: Funds will likely also be used to expand auditing and tracking programs, including enhancements to data systems. When diesel fuel leaves the bulk terminal, fuel to be used in a non-taxable fashion (off-highway use) is injected with a red dye. At both the Federal and State level, fuel taxes are not imposed on dyed fuel. Many States have enforcement initiatives where vehicles are randomly checked for the presence of red dye in the fuel. Several of the awards will likely be used to start or enhance existing programs in testing for dyed fuel. Fiscal Year 2018: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

State agencies can use the funds: to expand efforts to enhance motor fuel tax enforcement; to supplement motor fuel tax examinations and criminal investigations; to develop automated data processing tools to monitor motor fuel production and sales; to evaluate and implement registration and reporting requirements for motor fuel taxpayers; to reimburse State expenses that supplement existing fuel tax compliance efforts; to analyze and implement programs to reduce tax evasion associated with other highway use taxes; to support efforts between States and Indian tribes to address issues relating to State motor fuel taxes; and to analyze and implement programs to reduce tax evasion associated with foreign imported motor fuel.

An approved indirect cost rate by the entity?s cognizant agency is required before claiming indirect costs under a Federal award (2 CFR 200, Appendix VII, States and Local Government and Indian Tribe Indirect Cost Proposals).

Allowable activities are included in the defining statute at the United States Code, Title 23, Section143.

Pre-award costs are not allowed under this program.

$ 2,000,000 is available each year that are awarded through a competitive process base upon a Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, and the District of Columbia,.

Beneficiary Eligibility

States, and the District of Columbia.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants must submit all proposals electronically through www.Grants.gov.

Award Procedures

Awards are scheduled to be made for Fiscal Year 2015. FHWA and IRS will jointly recommend and approve projects for Federal funding for fuel tax evasion intergovernmental enforcement efforts. States selected to receive funding will enter into negotiations with FHWA and be required to enter into a project agreement with FHWA.

Deadlines

Nov 30, -0001: No. Due to a delay in the approval of the 2015 and 2016 awards, we have not yet announced the availability of the 2017 grants. When we do, we will allow approximately 60 days from the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) date. Not available at this time.

Authorization

Fixing America?s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), Public Law 114-94, 23 U.S.C 143.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The approval/disapproval time will take approximately 1 month.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

None.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The program is currently authorized for fiscal year 2016. There is no statutory expiration of the funds once awarded. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual reports will required for each project and will be outlined in the project agreement.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

Records

Participating agencies must keep records of expenditures/accomplishments as applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8083-0-7-401.

Obigations

(Project Grants) FY 16 $738,057; FY 17 est $4,000,000; and FY 18 est $4,000,000 - The FY 2017 budget line item is for the Highway Use Tax Evasion program. The source of funds for this program is a deduction (set-aside) of not more than $4 million per year from the funds authorized for FHWA administrative expenses. Of the amount set-aside, $2 million must be reserved to make grants for intergovernmental enforcement efforts, including research and training. As of May 2017, the awards for 2015 and 2016 were still awaiting final approval by the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST). The additional amount, $ 2 million under the FAST Act, is allocated to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for their highway use tax evasion enforcement efforts. The source of funds for this program is a deduction (set-aside) of not more than $4 million per year from the funds authorized for FHWA administrative expenses. Of the amount set-aside, $2 million must be reserved to make grants for intergovernmental enforcement efforts, including research and training.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Minimum: $10,000; Maximum $250,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Michael Dougherty, 1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: michael.dougherty@dot.gov Phone: (202) 366-9234.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applicants are encouraged to submit innovative proposals to reduce fuel tax evasion and increase collaboration and coordination among several public agencies. Priority will be given to proposals that involve more than one public agency. FHWA and the IRS will review the proposals using a scoring process that includes consideration of completeness of the application, enforcement potential, innovation, intergovernmental inclusion, and risk of success.