27-3786-01 Illinois Cycle Rider Safety Training Program
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- Deadline
- Aug 24, 2026
- Posted
- Jul 7, 2026
- Award amount
- Amount not specified
Who can apply
State Governments, County Governments, City or township governments, Small Businesses, Government Organizations, Education Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, For-Profit Organizations — Community college, State university, state or local government agency, or for-profit or nonprofit business entity in good standing and operating in the State of Illinois that is capable of providing courses meeting the definition in 625 ILCS 35/. Dealerships or those entities deriving income from the sale of motorcycles are not eligible.
About this grant
I. INTRODUCTION: The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT or “Department”) is seeking Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers (“Providers”) to administer Cycle Rider Safety Training Courses to individuals interested in taking a motorcycle safety course. The Cycle Rider Safety Training Program (CRSTP or “Program”) began in 1976 through Public Act 82-649. Since its inception and through partnerships with grantees, the program has trained over 400,000 students in Illinois. To aid in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Illinois roads, the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering (BSPE) administers the CRSTP. Through grantees, the CRSTP offers various levels of motorcycle safety training courses for Illinois residents to reduce motorcycle crashes. Motorcycle users are vulnerable road users and providing training to the community is essential to saving lives. As a benefit, students that pass Entry- or Intermediate-level training will be eligible to receive a course completion card that waives the motorcycle licensing test requirement when presented at the Illinois Secretary of State. Motorcycle training is a vital component in IDOT’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) ; it focuses on the reduction of motorcyclists’ vulnerabilities while riding. Course content includes how to choose proper safety gear and improve riding techniques. These strategies can help reduce motorcyclist fatalities on Illinois roadways. The goal of this program is to provide motorcycle training to current and potential motorcycle riders of all skill and experience levels. Courses are available to Illinois residents 16 or older who hold a valid automobile or motorcycle driver’s license. Residents younger than 18 must have written consent from a legal guardian. Program courses shall address safe motorcycling principles, enhancing the knowledge and skills of riders from novice to advanced. The grant period will last for one (1) year with two possible one-year grant renewals. The grant period runs from December 1, 2026 - November 30, 2027. The possible one-year grant renewals would run December 1, 2027 - November 30, 2028, and December 1, 2028 - November 30, 2029. Who is eligible to apply? Any State college or university, community college, State or local government agency, or for-profit or non-profit business entity in good standing and operating in the State may apply to be selected by the BSPE to offer Cycle Rider Safety Training courses at their Department-approved range sites. The following are not eligible to apply: any business registered as a motorcycle dealer with the Illinois Secretary of State or any other business that derives income from the selling of motorcycles or has motorcycles for sale at its place of business . II. PROJECT GOAL: To provide educational and lifesaving motorcycle training to Illinois residents for a nominal fee. This is the training component of a multi-dimensional approach to motorcycle safety that is needed to prevent fatalities and serious injuries. III. GRANT PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: Provider grantees under the CRSTP must meet the following: A. BASIC REQUIREMENTS 1. Each Provider shall be a State college or university, community college, government agency, a for-profit or non-profit business entity in good standing and operating in the State of Illinois. The following are not eligible: any business registered as a motorcycle dealer with the Illinois Secretary of State or any other business that derives income from the selling of motorcycles or has motorcycles for sale at its place of business. 2. Each Provider shall demonstrate capacity to provide courses meeting qualifications outlined in Section IV. Organizational Capacity through the submission of the BSPE 713 CRSTP Curriculum Approval Form. 3. Each Provider must maintain a physical operational office within the state. 4. Each Provider must maintain at least one (1) or more training range(s). Ranges must be approved through submission of the BSPE 714 Cycle Rider Safety Training Program Range Application for each site. 5. Each Provider must be able to secure adequate storage and service space for program equipment, including but not limited to motorcycles, program vehicles, and trailers. The space needed depends on the Provider’s needs. The space can be budgeted in the application and subsequent agreement. 6. Repaving of training ranges may be allowed but must be budgeted, subject to Department approval and the Training Site must sign a 5–10-year agreement for CRSTP usage WITHOUT site fees. 7. Each Provider program must meet the requirements of the Cycle Rider Safety Act (625 ILCS 35), Title 92, Part 455 of the Illinois Administrative Code, Department policies and procedures, specifically the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program Provider Manual, and meet the standards established in the Model National Administrative Standards for State Motorcycle Rider Training Programs by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 8. Each Provider must follow all Department-approved curriculum Provider guidelines, training range certifications, reporting, and documentation. Entry-level curriculum must adhere to the NHTSA’s Model National Standards for Entry-Level Motorcycle Rider Training. 9. If a Provider chooses to require a nominal registration fee, and upon course completion, students decide to donate the fee to the Program, they must maintain the student registration fee donations and make a monthly transfer of the balance to the Department with a report detailing the fees collected by submitting the BSPE 715 - CRSTP Monthly Course Fee Collection Report form with each deposit to the fund. 10. Each Provider must have a website where Cycle Rider Safety Training Course schedules are posted and online registration, or directions to register, are available. 11 Must complete all required forms. Forms include but are not limited to the BSPE 02, BSPE 09, BSPE 35 – 36 BSPE 700- 720, and BoBS 2832. Additional or alternate forms may be required for submission via the e-grant system in place. 12. Each Provider must attend a Grantee Meeting Orientation. 13. In the instance a Provider may not be able to perform operations, at the Department’s discretion, the agreement may be rescinded. Please review the CRSTP Provider Manual in the Questions Submission Section for an in-depth understanding of how this grant will operate. IV. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY The purpose of this section is for the applicant to present an accurate picture of the applicant Provider’s capacity, qualifications, and ability to provide the program as described in this NOFO. Information in this section should include: A. Entity overview that includes: 1. Convincing evidence that the applicant entity is capable of carrying out the proposed program, including fiscal, administrative and programmatic ability to effectively implement and manage the grant. This should include: a. Mission, objectives, performance measures, deliverables, and experience; b. Staffing patterns and qualifications to comply with Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) fiscal and administrative requirements; and c. Any recent changes in policies and procedures and the like to improve fiscal, administrative, or programmatic capacity. 2. Staff size and organizational chart, including: a. Resumes required for Program Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator and Instructor Trainers. b. Identify individuals responsible for conducting the quality assurance and provide their resumes or certifications which enable them to properly evaluate the skill levels of Instructors and to assess the conduct of proper classroom and Range procedures. c. Providers who apply to conduct classes on multiple course Sites must have sufficient administrative, Instructor, and Range aide staff to support operations. 3. Convincing evidence of experience providing motorcycle safety instruction. 4. Accomplishments of note. This can include number of riders trained previously. B. A plan for recruiting and managing Instructors. C. The fiscal capacity to carry out the program requirements. This includes proving ability to purchase equipment, lease facilities, purchase insurance and cover all other program costs as well as having an acceptable accounting system in place to meet GATA requirements. D. A plan for obtaining motorcycles and other key equipment as needed. E. Letters of Support: Must include at least three (3) letters of support from stakeholders who commit to assisting the Provider grantee applicant with core aspects of program. F. Providers must identify the areas of Illinois served. However, this does not exclude for multiple Providers in overlapping areas should training demand warrant it. G. List of the physical office, warehouse/storage, classroom and Range location(s). V. PROVIDER PERSONNEL The Provider functions as a central hub for all CRSTP courses which they operate. All Program personnel and Instructors are hired by the Provider and may be employed on a calendar year rather than a school year basis. Applicants must describe in narrative form the number of motorcycle professionals who will be engaged in training. Resumes must be included for key personnel demonstrating education and experience in motorcycle safety programs. The responsibilities of each individual and their length of time with the entity must be listed. All professionals engaged in training must have appropriate credentials for the Department-approved curriculum to be taught as per the Agreement. A. Each Provider shall be staffed with one (1) Program Coordinator, one or more Assistant Coordinators, and additional program staff as needed. B. Must have the ability to hire and pay the following staff for necessary operations: 1. Administrative Staff. 2. Maintenance Staff to service and repair motorcycles, program vehicles, and trailers. 3. Instructional Staff (Course Instructors) staffing levels shall allow for student: Instructor ratios that adhere to Curriculum Provider requirements and NHTSA standards for all levels of courses. The instructional staff must include at least one Instructor Trainer. 4. Quality Assurance Staff – at least one (1) person with training and capability to monitor program performance and implement a quality assurance plan for continuous program improvement. C. Must have IT infrastructure to handle student registration with potential high volumes of online registrations. D. Must electronically report all student course data to the Department through either the use of a Rider Education Management System (REMS) data file or a native connection to REMS. E. Must electronically report all student information based on the Equity and Racial Justice Act to BSPE through either the use of a REMS data file or a native connection to REMS. The Department may also request this information for the Instructor cadre. F. Ability to handle all student registrations and Instructor credentials through REMS. G. Conduct Quality Assurance and Quality Control as listed in Section V.B.4. H. Program Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator(s) shall teach at least one (1) Instructor Preparation course and one (1) Entry -level Course or four (4) Entry-level Courses annually during the course of the grant (December 1-November 30). I. Established Hourly Rate for training staff: (the Department may change the rates in following years, including for grant renewals) • Instructors will be paid $30.00 per hour • Range Aides will be paid $17.50 per hour • Range Aides (Double/Triple) will be paid $20.50 • Certified Instructor Trainers will be paid $44.00 per hour • Non-certified Instructor Trainers will be paid $41.00 per hour • Intermediate-level and Entry-level (three-wheel) Instructors will be paid at $35.50 per hour VI. MOTORCYCLE TRAINING The Provider establishes the Training Site(s) and Course schedules. Training Courses may be offered throughout the calendar year and shall be open to all residents of the state who have reached their 16th birthday by the start of the first day of class and hold a valid driver’s license, without regard to whether such person is enrolled in any other course offered by said Provider. The courses may be offered as credit or non-credit courses, but no fee shall be charged except for a nominal registration fee of $25.00, which shall be refunded upon successful completion of the course. If a student opts out of the registration fee refund, it is considered a donation to the program. Any donations shall be deposited into a program income account established by the Provider. This program income account balance is then to be returned monthly to the Department for deposit into the Cycle Rider Safety Training Fund. Requirements of the Provider(s): A. Each Provider must offer, at minimum, one (1) of the following course types: the Entry-level Course for two-wheeled motorcycles, Entry-level Course for three-wheeled motorcycles, the Intermediate-level Course, or the Advanced-level Course. B. Each Provider must teach a Department approved motorcycle student training curriculum. C. Each Provider must teach a Department approved designated motorcycle instructor training curriculum. D. Each Provider must oversee all new Instructor certifications and renewals and/or training updates. E. Each Provider must secure and maintain training location(s) otherwise known as sites or ranges. F. Each Provider must maintain certification on all training locations as required by the Curriculum Provider. G. Each Provider must have each student complete the Waiver or Release of Liability form, BPSE 702A. VII. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES A. Each Provider must establish training goals, objectives, performance measures, and deliverables in the application proposal. B. Each Provider must establish Instructor retention and recruitment goals in the application proposal. C. Each Provider must establish Training Site recruitment and retention plan. D. Each Provider must evaluate the program goals and objectives yearly. E. Each Provider must evaluate Instructor and student experience. F. Each Provider must establish a Quality Assurance Plan for Instructor monitoring visits, Site monitoring and a plan for continuous program improvement. VIII. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT A. Each Provider shall perform student and Instructor recruitment at community events. B. Each Provider shall provide education to the public about motorcycle safety. C. Each Provider serves as a point of contact for motorcycle safety training. D. Each Provider shall assist the Department with statewide motorcycle safety events and safety campaigns as requested. IX. PROJECT FUNDING GUIDANCE: Funding for this type of program is limited; current/past funding of a program does not guarantee future funding. Program applicants must provide clear data supporting the community’s need, prove their organizational capacity, and the specific ways this program and funding will improve problem areas. Program applicants must also demonstrate how their request will help meet BSPE’s performance goals. Providers are eligible for grant funding under the following three (3) conditions: A. Only if a course was held, the Provider may seek reimbursement of cost per student rate multiplied by the number of students present on the first day of the course. Cost per Student (budget category: Grant Exclusive Line Item) may include the following items: 1. Site fees 2. Storage rental fees 3. Personnel and fringe costs 4. Routine daily operations travel expenses 5. Consultant services 6. Operating expenses including: i. Insurance ii. Utilities (internet, electric, water, etc.) iii. Technology fees (i.e. subscription services, software fees, etc.) 7. Supplies 8. General office supplies 9. Curriculum materials for courses 10. Range Paint, traffic cones, fuel, other range supplies B. Expenses related to the maintenance of program equipment. Maintenance of program equipment may include: 1. Parts 2. External labor expenses 3. Replacement purchase of motorcycle 4. Equipment consumables (ex: spark plugs, oil, etc.) C. Non-personnel expenses deemed appropriate by the department. Non-personnel expenses may be: 1. Instructor certification fees 2. Conference registration fees 3. Conference travel expenses 4. Equipment (i.e. Motorcycles, 3-wheeled cycles) 5. Computers/laptops/tablet purchases (not to exceed $999) 6. Interpreter fees 7. Range paving (see Section III(A)(6)) 8. Food for two (2) Instructor updates annually (cannot exceed $1,000 each) with Department approval. 9. Other items as deemed allowable by the Department. Other items of importance: D. Out-of-state conference travel - reimbursement for conference attendance is limited to one (1) participant per grant year. E. Food is allowable for Instructor updates. Food costs cannot exceed $1,000 per event. F. Reimbursement for the use of personal cell phone/data plans is not allowed. G. Reimbursement for the use of home internet/data plans is not allowed. H. Grant Exclusive costs such as motorcycle gas, oil, and motorcycle repairs and/or maintenance costs are considered Supplies. I. Equipment purchased with grant funds can only be used for program-related activities. J. Must follow all State of Illinois travel guidelines and reimbursement costs unless the Provider’s costs are lower. K. Must follow all State of Illinois procurement guidelines unless Provider’s are more restrictive. L. Must provide justification for all costs in the narrative of the budget, including Cost per Student. M. The Provider is responsible for disposal of equipment should it reach the end of its useful life and no longer be of use to the Program. The Provider must notify the Department of disposal of items for $1,000.00 or more. N. If the Provider or Department were to cancel the agreement, all materials, supplies and equipment purchased with grant funds will be returned to the Department or transferred to another Provider as directed by the Department. SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT GRANT PAYMENTS CRSTP grants are reimbursement grants meaning reimbursements are issued after expenditures are incurred. Due to the time it takes to review, approve and process reimbursement requests as well as the time it takes the Illinois Comptroller to issue payments, grantees should be prepared to fund sixty (60) days of operations prior to receiving reimbursement. Please include in your application materials a description of your ability to support program functions while awaiting reimbursement. REIMBURSEMENT I. Claims for reimbursement submitted by the Grantee will be for expenses that have been incurred within the scope of services/responsibilities outlined in the Agreement. If the Grantee’s claims for reimbursement are deemed (by the Grantor or auditors) insufficiently documented for supplies and equipment purchased or other services rendered, the Grantor may require further records and/or supporting documents to verify the amounts, recipients and uses of all funds invoiced pursuant to the Agreement. Furthermore, if any of the deliverables or milestones outlined in the Agreement are not satisfactorily completed, the Grantee will refund payments made under the Agreement to the extent that such payments were made for any such incomplete or unsatisfactory deliverable. The Grantee must submit all claims for reimbursement on the BSPE 720 - Cycle Rider Safety Claim for Reimbursement form. Claims for reimbursement are due within ninety (90) days of the end of the service period being reimbursed. The Grantee may request an extension of time to submit claims for reimbursement along with required supporting documentation. Extension requests must be submitted to the Grantor, in writing, at least two (2) weeks prior to the claim due date . Grantor must provide a written approval or denial of a time extension. Any final claims that document costs that were unresolved or pending in the calendar year the course was completed must be submitted to the Department within ninety (90) days after the expiration of the annual program year ending November 30th. If the Grantee cannot meet the 90-day deadline for submitting any final claims for reimbursement, the Grantee may request a short time extension for submitting these documents. Time extension requests must be submitted to the Grantor in writing at least two (2) weeks prior to the due date. Grantor must provide a written approval or denial of any time extension requests. Any approved time extension will be limited in nature to ensure the Grantor’s ability to reconcile and close out the grant year in a timely manner. Any expenditure made prior to the Agreement start date is the responsibility of the Grantee. The Grantee must submit the BSPE 720 claim form and supporting documentation to the Grantor pursuant to the Agreement via email at: DOT.BSPE.Claims@illinois.gov. If issues arise submitting the BSPE 720 - Reimbursement Claim Form, please contact the Grantor Contact listed in the Agreement. II. All claims and supporting documents must be signed and dated electronically by the authorized representative of the Grantee. The claim must include: A. The Agreement Number. B. Requests for reimbursement must be requested on the Grantor’s designated form, BSPE 720. C. Back up documentation, which may include invoices and receipts for expenditures, must be submitted with each claim. III. Review and Approval A. Upon submittal of a claim, the assigned Grantor Contact reviews and checks: 1. Mathematical accuracy of the claim. 2. That requested reimbursement is consistent with items included in the approved budget. 3. That total amount requested for reimbursement is proportional to total amount budgeted. 4. That expenditures for each line item are less than or equal to the budgeted amounts and are allowable based on state laws and the terms of the Agreement. 5. Completion of the work. B. Failure to provide a complete claim may delay or prevent reimbursement. If there are problems with the claim, the assigned Grantor Contact will contact the Grantee to resolve the issue so that payment can be made, assuming all expenses are allowable. This may include submission of a new or corrected claim by the Grantee. C. The assigned Grantor Contact will review and approve or reject the claim within thirty (30) days of the Grantee’s submittal. If rejected, the claim will not be processed for payment until revisions are approved by the Grantee. IV. Manager Approval Once a claim is approved for payment, the Grantor’s Finance Unit processes the claim for payment by the Comptroller. V. Send Payment Once approved, the Comptroller forwards payment either via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or by mailing a check to the Grantee’s Remittance Address listed on the Agreement. If the Grantee is not registered for EFT payments but would like to receive them in lieu of paper checks, the Grantee must contact the Illinois Comptroller directly to establish EFT payments. The Grantor cannot do this on the Grantee’s behalf. VI. Indirect Cost Rate Eligibility This grant program is eligible for Indirect Costs. X. TRAVEL GUIDELINES: All travel must follow designated state guidelines established by the Governor’s Travel Control Board. Travel rules require that lodging rates do not exceed U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) approved rates while traveling on official state-funded business. Any claims submitted for reimbursement must be properly documented or they will be rejected. For specific details and guidelines, refer to the Illinois Department of Central Management Services Travel Guide for State Employees, https://cms.illinois.gov/employees/travel.html,or the U.S. GSA, https://www.gsa.gov/travel, website, or the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program Provider Manual. XI. PROGRAMMATIC INCOME/IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS: The Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering has a fiduciary responsibility in the administration of the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program and all Program Income derived as a direct result of the Program. The grantee is permitted to charge the student a nominal registration fee, which must be pre-approved by the Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering and shall be refunded to the student upon completion of the course. The nominal registration fee is $25.00 per student. The student may forfeit any registration fee or any portion thereof after completion of the course. These forfeitures shall be deposited into the Program Income Account. The program income account is to be transferred to the Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering every thirty (30) calendar days to be deposited into the Cycle Rider Safety Training Fund. A check for the funds for deposit must be submitted with the BSPE 715 CRSTP Monthly Course Fee Collection Report to verify course enrollment, funds collected and refunds. Any funds held in the Program Income Account must be transferred to the Grantor as directed by BSPE, within forty-five (45) calendar days of the expiration or termination date of the grant agreement. XII. INVENTORY CONTROL: Any items purchased over $1,000, are required to be tracked and monitored by both the Provider agency and the Department. This inventory will be monitored throughout the grant program. The required inventory list must contain the item’s name, location, and unique identification number for each item. How this is established is up to the Provider’s discretion but must have the required information described above. If equipment above $1,000 is replaced with a new item and the previous was purchased with IDOT grant funds, the previous item will need to be turned into IDOT, if the item still has useful life. The Grantee is tasked with disposal of items beyond its useful life. However, IDOT must be informed of any disposed item and the date of disposal. Then inventory control lists must reflect this change. If it is not returned or disposed of properly, the new item will not be reimbursed. IDOT will inspect any item purchased for more than $1,000 biennially, or every two years. The Providers must conduct inventory annually. XIII. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES EXPLANATION: A. Equipment: (2 CFR 200.313 and 2 CFR 200.439) Equipment means tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals $1,000 or more. Examples: motorcycle, truck, trailer, computer systems, etc. B. Equipment Monitoring: All pieces of equipment will be monitored until equipment disposal. Grantees are required to keep detailed information on where the equipment is and must present it when requested by the Department. Equipment is only to be disposed of when it is no longer useful and IDOT must be informed of the disposal. The Provider must contact the Department prior to disposal. C. Supplies: (2 CFR 200.314 and 2 CFR 200.453) Supplies mean all tangible personal property other than those described in Equipment. Tangible personal property with a purchase price of less than $1,000 per unit. A computing device is a supply if the acquisition cost is less than $1,000, regardless of the length of its useful life. See also 2 CFR §200.453 Computing devices and Equipment. Generally, supplies include any materials that are expendable or consumed during the course of the project. Examples: pens, pencils, printer, paper, laptop under $1,000, calculator, tablet, etc. XIV. TECHNOLOGY GUIDELINES FOR GRANTEES: A. Personal Cell Phone and Data: The Department will not provide salary stipends, expense reimbursements, payments on behalf of grantees, or any reimbursement (via purchasing card or direct bill) to cover costs associated with the use of personal cell phones, data plans, or other equipment with cellular connectivity used while performing business-related activities. B. Personal/Home Internet: The Department Transportation will not provide salary stipends, expense reimbursements, payments on behalf of grantees, or any reimbursement (via purchasing card or direct bill) to cover costs associated with the use of personal/home internet services used while performing business-related activities. C. Computers/Laptop/Tablet Purchases: If computers/laptops/tablets were approved in the grantee’s budget, prior approval is needed once selected before making the purchase. Computing devices/laptops/computers have a limit of $999 dollars. If the grantee is replacing a computing device and the previous computing device was purchased with state funds, it must be returned to the Department after the new computing device is received. Should the Provider deem a purchase over $999 necessary, the purchase requires justification with required documentation submitted to their Grant Administrator prior to purchase. After reviewing the Grant Administrator will deem it allowable or denied. Criteria for Approval Determination of a computing device: 1. Computer charges must meet the same fundamental standards as all other charges to state awards. They must be reasonable. 2. There must be an informed, prudent decision regarding the cost, utility, and value to the project. 3. They must be allowable. 4. They must be directly allocable. 5. The primary/principal use of the computer and related costs must be directly allocable to the purpose, goals, and activities of the funded projects. 6. They must be necessary for the project and only used towards grant-covered functions. 7. Computers must be essential for project activities, and use should be sufficiently tracked to be adequately justified in the event of an audit. Please see Purchasing Computing Devices with Federal Funds (applicable Uniform Guidance Sections 2 CFR Part 200.453) for further explanation.
Source: public records via Grants.gov. UseGrants is an independent aggregator, not affiliated with any funding agency. Always confirm details on the official listing before applying.